McCain Web ad touts Bill Clinton's kind words - AMERICAblog: A great nation deserves the truth
"...Now, I suppose it's possible that someone else is buying Web ads in order to promote Bill Clinton's kind words for McCain. But there's no getting around the fact that it's McCain's own campaign Web site that's using a big ole video of Bill Clinton, complimenting John McCain, as a way of drumming up votes for old John. And I've got to imagine that McCain isn't using Bill Clinton's praise to attract conservative votes - they hate Bill Clinton. He's doing it to win independents. It was only a matter of time before John McCain moved to the middle and abandoned conservatives, again. But I didn't think he was going to do it before he even had the primary sewn up. And I sure never imagined he'd use Bill Clinton's praise as a badge of honor. The conservatives are gonna go nuts."
I can see it now-- McCain/Hillary...
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Moving Past MoveOn
The following basically summarizes what happened to me with MoveOn and what I ultimately also did about it.
Quoted from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robin-maxwell/moveon-and-keep-movin_b_86285.html:
Robin Maxwell: MoveOn... and Keep Movin' Right Outta My Life - Politics on The Huffington Post
...A few weeks ago MoveOn announced their intention to endorse a presidential candidate. I was asked to choose my favorite. Something about this request made me uncomfortable. I hadn't yet made up my mind between John Edwards, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. In fact, I'd recently received an insightful, fact-filled letter from Michael Moore pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate, their voting records on everything from health care to the war in Iraq, how much money had been contributed to their campaign coffers, and by whom.
Michael had something nice to say about each candidate, but in the end he respectfully submitted his personal preference for the record - Edwards. It helped me immensely to have the facts in front of me so I could narrow things down and make an informed choice.
As for MoveOn's ill-advised poll, I ignored it...
I was increasingly turned off by the blatant "hands-off" bias of the press towards Obama, the slavering, almost cult-like adoration of a candidate who was unquestioningly charismatic, an inspiring speaker, who had been on the right side of the vote to go to war with Iraq, but was still a bit green behind the ears...
That was it. From then on, every time I got another "Vote for Obama" email from MoveOn I sent back a reply telling them to cease and desist from treating me and the other 30% of their dissenting membership with disrespect. That perhaps they had gotten too big for their .org britches. That they should forget intra-party partisanship and throw their substantial weight into making sure Hillary and Barack won the general election in November. And that maybe they should respond to my emails.
Get a grip on yourself, guys. Deflate your self-important heads. But until then, MoveOn, you can just unsubscribe me.
Another Look At Religion In America
Quoted from http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/02/12/washingtons_god_storyand_ameri/:
TPM Cafe | Talking Points Memo | Washington’s God Story—and America’s
...It’s what I call Washington’s God Story.
But here’s why I think this “right wing dominance of religion” story is false: over eighty percent of Clinton voters in the 1990s, Gore voters in 2000 and Kerry voters in 2004 identified themselves as “religious” in exit polls—and I’m guessing at least eighty percent of the Democratic vote will say the same this coming November. So clearly millions upon millions of Americans have long counted themselves “religious”--but don’t behave in the voting booth, or think of themselves generally, as “a right-wing force” at all...
Superdelegate Shuckle
*Shuckle= a combination of shuck and shuffle.
Quoted from http://www.taylormarsh.com/archives_view.php?id=26995:
Democrat Taylor Marsh Broadcasts Live Talk Radio and Blogs Politics
This is classic.
Obama on superdelegates last week:
Well, you go read the post and decide who is talking out of which side of what mouth. Somebody speaketh with forked tongue.
Winning The South
Anne-Marie Slaughter: The South Has Not Yet Been Won - Politics on The Huffington Post: "...I thought of this recently with all the crowing about how Obama is beating Hillary with southern white men. Indeed, in Ellen Goodman's recent column identifying 10 pieces of conventional wisdom that have been debunked in the election thus far, the only one left standing was that 'Southern white men still won't vote for a white woman.' In other words, many white men in the South may be voting against Hillary more than they are voting for Obama. That's not good news for the Clinton campaign. But it isn't necessarily good news for the Obama campaign either. Just because these voters prefer Obama to Hillary does not mean that they will vote for Obama over McCain, no matter what the polls say. It's very hard to believe that when the chips are down they're not going to vote for the guy who looks like them.
Hillary lost her head and won, again and again. And a lot of white males, particularly in the south, can't stand her for it, and for the qualities that she has had to develop to succeed in what, for much of her career, was still largely a man's world. Obama may well be able to convince some of those voters to cross racial lines, which would be great. But the depth of their antipathy to Hillary should warn all Democrats that the south has not yet been won."
If you're black and you vote for Obama ... if you're white and you vote for Clinton... In order to not be a racist, you must...
Conservatism As Disease
Following is an excerpt from a post outlining the fundamental differences between conservatives and liberals. It is worth a read for sure.
Quoted from http://lastleftb4hooterville.blogspot.com/2008/02/bush-is-symptom-conservatism-is-disease.html:
Last Left Turn Before Hooterville: Bush is the Symptom - Conservatism is the Disease
...Conservatives revere and revel in the label 'conservative' in a way that liberals ceased to do in the sixties, when conservatives began blaming liberalism for every evil under the sun. Before that, the majority of Americans self-identified as liberals; liberalism represented the things in society that Americans valued - equality, diversity, making sure that everyone had a chance at the "American Dream". The economic programs that gave us a middle class - strong unions, the GI Bill, Social Security, Medicare - are liberal programs. Liberals believe that you can't sacrifice people so that corporations can grow fat. Liberals know that the 'trickle down theory' is, as Dubya's father once rightly said, 'voodoo economics', and that the only boats that a 'rising tide lifts' are yachts. Liberals believe that we as a nation have a responsibility, not for, but to all of our citizens (there's a difference) and that government is not the enemy, but 'We the People'. It's not 'them', it's 'us'. But when conservatives, backed by the limitless coffers of Big Business Republican think-tanks who saw their vision of conservative financial and social dominance slipping away, decided to attack liberalism as the symbol of all that's wrong with America, liberals did not challenge this assertion and it became part of the national narrative without liberals quite knowing what happened...
Smokin'
Quoted from http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/:
All The World's A Stage ...
... and the smokers on it only players. At least that's what the bar owners in Minnesota have decided. They have taken a loophole in the state no-smoking law to allow their patrons to have their tobacco, even if they have to sing for their supper, so to speak...
Monday, February 11, 2008
Taliban Faltering In Pakistan
Bin Laden, Taliban, al-Qaida support plummets in Pakistan - AMERICAblog: A great nation deserves the truth
"In 2004, the BBC released a powerful series called The Power of Nightmares, The Rise of the Politics of Fear. It is about the parallel rise of radical Islam and the radical neocon right since the 1950s. (View online here.) One issue that the three part documentary covered was the rise and then hard fall of radicals in places such as Algeria. Indiscriminate killing and a steady blood bath in the name of the cause has lowered support for the movement time after time. The documentary is well worth viewing.
"In 2004, the BBC released a powerful series called The Power of Nightmares, The Rise of the Politics of Fear. It is about the parallel rise of radical Islam and the radical neocon right since the 1950s. (View online here.) One issue that the three part documentary covered was the rise and then hard fall of radicals in places such as Algeria. Indiscriminate killing and a steady blood bath in the name of the cause has lowered support for the movement time after time. The documentary is well worth viewing.
The poll suggests Pakistanis are looking to peaceful opposition groups after months of political turmoil and a wave of suicide attacks.
In the latest bloodshed, a bomber blew himself up at an opposition rally in the northwestern town of Charsadda on Saturday, killing 27 people and injuring 50.
According to the poll results only 24 percent of Pakistanis approved of bin Laden when the survey was conducted last month, compared with 46 percent during a similar survey in August.
Backing for al-Qaida, whose senior leaders are believed to be hiding along the Pakistani-Afghan border, fell to 18 percent from 33 percent."
Sunday, February 10, 2008
How Conservatives Can Win
Quoted from http://jonswift.blogspot.com/:
...Instead of voting to make things not quite as bad as they could be, however, a better strategy for conservatives would be to make things as bad as they possibly could be. One of the things we learned in Vietnam is that sometimes you have to destroy the village in order to save it. And the only way to save this country and the Republican Party at this point may be to destroy them. Though John McCain would destroy this country, he might not destroy it enough. So some patriotic conservatives have decided to become "suicide voters," pulling the lever for Clinton or Obama instead of McCain. I think this is a good plan and, taking a page from Malkin, conservatives should also vote for the most liberal candidates they can find in every contest in November. Let's hand over the entire government to the liberals and then see how the American people like it. They deserve it after treating us the way they have when conservatives have done so much for this country. And after a few years of liberal government, I'm sure they will come running back to conservatives, begging us to return to power. So from now on, I am going to be supporting the most liberal candidates I can find. That oughta show 'em.
On The Corporate Media
Quoted from http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/12742:
There's nothing mainstream about the corporate media | The Smirking Chimp
As we stumble toward another presidential election, it's never been more clear that our political process is being warped by a corporate stranglehold on the free flow of information. Amidst a virtual blackout of coverage of a horrific war, a global ecological crisis and an advancing economic collapse, what passes for the mass media is itself in collapse. What's left of our democracy teeters on the brink.
The culprit, in the parlance of the day, has been the "Mainstream Media," or MSM.
But that's wrong name for it. Today's mass media is Corporate, not Mainstream, and the distinction is critical.
Calling the Corporate Media (CM) "mainstream" implies that it speaks for mid-road opinion, and it absolutely does not....
...The Corporate Media takes partisan stands (often in favor of the Republican Party, but always in defense of corporate interests) by sabotaging political candidacies, especially those of candidates who challenge corporate power. This year it blacklisted the populist candidacy of John Edwards, suffocating his ability to compete for the Democratic nomination....
...Thankfully, just as the CM solidifies its power over our mass media outlets, the internet has burst forth as an open, wildly diverse medium for mainstream opinion and actual truth. Its preservation will require what Thomas Jefferson called "eternal vigilance."
That includes restoring the Fairness Doctrine, enacted by a Republican Congress in the 1920s to guarantee balanced opinion on the emerging electronic medium of radio. It means a ban on unified corporate ownership of large fleets of radio, TV and print outlets. It means busting up the monopolies that warp public access to information and opinion....
I would like to hear someone ask Obama and Clinton what their respective positions are concerning the Media, especially the idea of returning something like the Fairness Doctrine to the public good.
Rosie and the Dream Ticket
Rosie O'Donnell: Burned Up and Burned Out by Politics - Politics on The Huffington Post: ..."Could a Clinton-Obama or Obama-Clinton ticket be our future? I hope so. I think America would benefit from the strengths of either individual, but if those strengths were combined, we might just have the Democratic powerhouse the country needs to turn itself around, and back into peace, prosperity and opportunity.
May they both release the desire to receive for oneself alone -- and save the world together."
May they both release the desire to receive for oneself alone -- and save the world together."
Endless GOPer War
Quoted from http://pmcarpenter.blogs.com/p_m_carpenters_commentary/2008/02/an-electorate-i.html:
p m carpenter's commentary: An Electorate in the Wilderness?
...Contrast that history with today. Or, to be a bit more pointed, contrast that history with what the Republican Party is hawking today. Keeping us in war -- a vague, perpetual, virtually endless world war against the vague enemy of a tactic -- is the once-isolationist GOP's promise to America. It's on its masthead, it's in its blood, it litters its rhetoric.
For the GOP, gone is the bottom-up politics of the 20th century. Or, at least, the GOP wants it gone -- banished in perpetuity. What it has to sell is top-down fear, complete with Orwellian broadcasts on the big screen, full of dire warnings that unseen enemies threaten us everywhere. We must stay engaged, stay the course, stay unremittingly embroiled hither and yon.
What drives the party of perpetual war is merely, of course, a perpetual propaganda machine, every bit as ugly and pointless as Orwell's. We must win the war, although the war is amorphous. We must defeat the enemy, although he is just as amorphous. We must persevere, although the object of our perseverance is unattainable -- the eradication of a centuries-old political tactic...
The Rich Get...
Jim Hightower | BEWARE OF CORPORATE “HEROES”: "Oh, Angelo, what a hero you are. Yessiree, a real corporate hero.
Angelo Mozilo is CEO of Countrywide Financial Corporation, which was America’s largest huckster of subprime mortgages before that whole house of cards came tumbling down. Thousands of Countrywide’s customers have lost their homes, thousands of its employees have lost their jobs, and Countrywide itself was on the brink of bankruptcy until it arranged a bailout merger with Bank of America.
One who was not suffering a bit, though, was Angelo. He had set himself up with a nice little severance package of $36 million, plus $400,000 a year in consulting fees from the new owners and use of the corporate jet. However, after an explosion of public outrage over this sweetheart set-up, Angelo has magnanimously stepped forth to say that he will voluntarily forego his golden package. What a guy, huh?..."
Angelo Mozilo is CEO of Countrywide Financial Corporation, which was America’s largest huckster of subprime mortgages before that whole house of cards came tumbling down. Thousands of Countrywide’s customers have lost their homes, thousands of its employees have lost their jobs, and Countrywide itself was on the brink of bankruptcy until it arranged a bailout merger with Bank of America.
One who was not suffering a bit, though, was Angelo. He had set himself up with a nice little severance package of $36 million, plus $400,000 a year in consulting fees from the new owners and use of the corporate jet. However, after an explosion of public outrage over this sweetheart set-up, Angelo has magnanimously stepped forth to say that he will voluntarily forego his golden package. What a guy, huh?..."
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Clinton Will Work Edwards
Political Radar: Clinton Will Call on Edwards as President: "ABC News' Eloise Harper reports: Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., speaking in Lewiston, Maine, said that she would call on former No. Carolina Sen. John Edwards if she becomes president.
“There is a lot John and I have in common. I will be a fighter, and I intend to ask John Edwards to be a part of anything I do in the White House.” Clinton was prompted to speak about Edwards after a woman stood up and sad she was a former supporter of his -– but has not switched allegiances to Clinton. The woman commended Edwards for being a fighter –- and thought Clinton was a fighter, as well..."
“There is a lot John and I have in common. I will be a fighter, and I intend to ask John Edwards to be a part of anything I do in the White House.” Clinton was prompted to speak about Edwards after a woman stood up and sad she was a former supporter of his -– but has not switched allegiances to Clinton. The woman commended Edwards for being a fighter –- and thought Clinton was a fighter, as well..."
Bill v. Heckler
Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall | Bill Stands Down Heckler: "Just got a report in from Jonathan Kaplan of the Portland Press Herald. Apparently Bill got heckled at a Hillary event and, well ...
A lone heckler calling on Sen. Clinton to “end the war” in Iraq interrupted the beginning of Clinton’s speech.
“Would you like to make this speech?” Clinton said. “Sir, this is not your event, this is for Hillary.”
When he said that, “the war is still going on,” Clinton responded, “That is because George Bush is still fighting it.”
The crowd erupted in cheers and shouted down the heckler, who was escorted out of the building by a single police officer.
I'll get the link when it goes online."
A lone heckler calling on Sen. Clinton to “end the war” in Iraq interrupted the beginning of Clinton’s speech.
“Would you like to make this speech?” Clinton said. “Sir, this is not your event, this is for Hillary.”
When he said that, “the war is still going on,” Clinton responded, “That is because George Bush is still fighting it.”
The crowd erupted in cheers and shouted down the heckler, who was escorted out of the building by a single police officer.
I'll get the link when it goes online."
Friday, February 08, 2008
McCain Humor
"Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno." - John McCain in 1998 - AMERICAblog: A great nation deserves the truth: "by John Aravosis (DC) · 2/08/2008 08:12:00 PM ET
Bashing an 18 year old girl and making a lesbian joke about the attorney general. Enough said."
Bashing an 18 year old girl and making a lesbian joke about the attorney general. Enough said."
Waiting For The Outrage
Shuster: Chelsea Being 'Pimped Out' | NewsBusters.org
"Appearing on Tucker Carlson's show a few days ago, Hillary fan Lanny Davis observed that Tucker's is "about the only show on MSNBC that consistently allows a Clinton perspective to be expressed." But maybe not so much when, as this evening, David Shuster is the guest host. Employing one of the more graphic metaphors to be heard about a Clinton from the MSM, Shuster tonight claimed that Chelsea Clinton is being "pimped out" by her mother's campaign..." (Video at the link.)
Well, imagine the furor if he had said this about an Obama or Bush daughter.
Update: Shuster suspended.
"Appearing on Tucker Carlson's show a few days ago, Hillary fan Lanny Davis observed that Tucker's is "about the only show on MSNBC that consistently allows a Clinton perspective to be expressed." But maybe not so much when, as this evening, David Shuster is the guest host. Employing one of the more graphic metaphors to be heard about a Clinton from the MSM, Shuster tonight claimed that Chelsea Clinton is being "pimped out" by her mother's campaign..." (Video at the link.)
Well, imagine the furor if he had said this about an Obama or Bush daughter.
Update: Shuster suspended.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Obama In N.O.
Harry Shearer: What Obama Brought to New Orleans - Politics on The Huffington Post: "...He referred to 'Katrina battering the levees.' Does he know (or care) that those levees gave way under surge conditions far less than they were advertised to withstand? (NOTE: Though Katrina was a Cat 5 storm when it made landfall in Mississippi, it was a strong Cat 1 or weak Cat 2 by the time it passed New Orleans) And that the Corps that 'knowingly' (according to federal judge Stanwood Duval) built insufficient protection into that system continues to do its work without independent peer review? If so, he gave no indication in today's speech (that I can find so far).
I know commenters will say, 'lighten up, he came to your town, he put it in the spotlight, he showed he cared.' Here's my response: if a physician comes to your house, has a great bedside manner, and shows deep compassion, but misdiagnoses your condition and therefore misprescribes, are you supposed to be grateful?"
I know commenters will say, 'lighten up, he came to your town, he put it in the spotlight, he showed he cared.' Here's my response: if a physician comes to your house, has a great bedside manner, and shows deep compassion, but misdiagnoses your condition and therefore misprescribes, are you supposed to be grateful?"
Comment of the Day
Quoted from 'myiq2xu Says' @: http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/02/07/and-so-it-beginsobama-excitementcult/#comments:
Crooks and Liars » And so it begins…Obama excitement=Cult
I’ve been commenting on various blogs for quite a while now, but it wasn’t until I dared to say negative things about St. Barack that people responded with nasty, vicious personal attacks.
Criticize Hillary and people will disagree, but criticize Obama and they will call you names and insult you
What It's All About
Ellis Weiner: Kristol Bawls - Media on The Huffington Post: Quoting Kristol--"The American conservative movement has been remarkably successful. We shouldn't take that success for granted. It's not easy being a conservative movement in a modern liberal democracy....
Especially when it's not remotely 'conservative,' but never mind. From the people who put the 'con' in Neo-con comes the New Triumphalism: a whiny, self-pitying cry of victory as every element and detail of their project is revealed to have been a lie, a scam, a shakedown, a fraud, and a failure. Except, of course, for the money. Everyone -- from Rumsfeld to Cheney, from the chief commander of Blackwater to the Commander in Chief in the White House (who told the unbearable Chris Matthews, in pitch-perfect Idiot Sophomore, that he intends, as soon as he retires, to 'replenish the old coffers') -- will have got their money..."
Especially when it's not remotely 'conservative,' but never mind. From the people who put the 'con' in Neo-con comes the New Triumphalism: a whiny, self-pitying cry of victory as every element and detail of their project is revealed to have been a lie, a scam, a shakedown, a fraud, and a failure. Except, of course, for the money. Everyone -- from Rumsfeld to Cheney, from the chief commander of Blackwater to the Commander in Chief in the White House (who told the unbearable Chris Matthews, in pitch-perfect Idiot Sophomore, that he intends, as soon as he retires, to 'replenish the old coffers') -- will have got their money..."
Evangelical Reminder
Talk To Action | Reclaiming Citizenship, History, and Faith: "...I will be posting more 'revelations' about the Christian Right and election 2008 over the next few months. But remember, millions of Christian evangelicals already vote for Democrats. Some 95% of Black evangelicals, for example, vote Democratic in Presidential elections. Some White evangelicals are swing voters. There are progressive Christian evangelicals. There are even progressive Christian Fundamentalists. And you know what? None of us spiritual folk can leave our beliefs outside the voting booth. That's just stupid. We don't ask secularists to leave their morality and ideology outside the voting booth. Get over it.
So don't cost Democratic candidates some votes by being an ignorant jerk who goes around saying stuff about Christians and other spiritual people that just is not true.
Stay tuned."
So don't cost Democratic candidates some votes by being an ignorant jerk who goes around saying stuff about Christians and other spiritual people that just is not true.
Stay tuned."
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
More Clinton In California
Quoted from http://firedoglake.com/2008/02/06/rashamon-wednesday/:
Firedoglake - Firedoglake weblog » Rashamon Wednesday
...Obama's California defeat was devastating; both campaigns made it ground zero for all their firepower, pulling out all the stops and Clinton won decisively in groups she's had a hard time competing with before -- everything but African Americans and young white men, atheists and people who make between 159-400k a year. Gays broke huge for her, so did Asians and Latinos, churchgoers, married people seniors --- as did young people 18-24 in both Massachusetts and California. As Dave Dayden said at Calitics, "Clinton SMOKED Obama in the hard-to-reach areas of SoCal and the Central Valley." It was a heavily contested battle where we got to see everything they've got, and Clinton scored a decisive victory.
The Obama campaign won every media cycle in the days before Super Tuesday largely based on the Kennedy endorsements, and despite this he took a 14 point drubbing in Massachusetts. The boost he was supposed to get among Latinos based on the Teddy factor never materialized. If I was the Obama campaign I'd be scratching my head this morning going "what do we do for an encore?"...
Clinton and California Voters
Jeff Chang: Why Latinos and Asian Americans Went Hillary - Politics on The Huffington Post: "...In California, while Obama took a plurality of white voters (including white males) and the overwhelming majority of African American voters, Hillary won the popular vote by 8 points. So how did Hillary make her 10% margin of victory? A big part of the answer was in the Latino and Asian American votes. A CNN exit poll last night indicated that Latinos in California went for Hillary by a 2-1 margin, and Asian Americans went for her 3-1. Democratic polls showed Hillary winning Latinos by 3-1..."
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Liking Clinton
Democrat Taylor Marsh Broadcasts Live Talk Radio and Blogs Politics: Hillary Clinton For President
"...This has been a journey for me. I didn't start out in Clinton's camp. Watching the media eviscerate her for being a woman, being brilliant, being competent and strong, being a Clinton, I started to get incensed at the hatred I was witnessing, the unfairness too. I've read dozens of books and papers on her, but I began watching more closely. Then I saw her in action. She blew everyone else off the stage on substance. Barack Obama skipped the very first forum held in Carson City. The first health care debate Obama showed up, but wasn't ready with his health care plan and didn't have any details to offer. Clinton showed up and laid it out, point by point, Edwards too. This happened in event after event; then debate after debate. It took Obama an entire year to catch up with her on debating the issues. That's as slow a learning curve as you're going to find for the biggest job in the world. No one noticed. In the last debate people started saying Barack Obama finally held his own. Finally being the operative word. Seeing a segment on 'Hannity & Colmes' last night, voters for Obama were asked by Sean Hannity to name an accomplishment of Barack Obama's. Frank Luntz went from voter to voter to voter. No one could name one. Hannity was incredulous. But you're going to nominate him for president?..."
"...This has been a journey for me. I didn't start out in Clinton's camp. Watching the media eviscerate her for being a woman, being brilliant, being competent and strong, being a Clinton, I started to get incensed at the hatred I was witnessing, the unfairness too. I've read dozens of books and papers on her, but I began watching more closely. Then I saw her in action. She blew everyone else off the stage on substance. Barack Obama skipped the very first forum held in Carson City. The first health care debate Obama showed up, but wasn't ready with his health care plan and didn't have any details to offer. Clinton showed up and laid it out, point by point, Edwards too. This happened in event after event; then debate after debate. It took Obama an entire year to catch up with her on debating the issues. That's as slow a learning curve as you're going to find for the biggest job in the world. No one noticed. In the last debate people started saying Barack Obama finally held his own. Finally being the operative word. Seeing a segment on 'Hannity & Colmes' last night, voters for Obama were asked by Sean Hannity to name an accomplishment of Barack Obama's. Frank Luntz went from voter to voter to voter. No one could name one. Hannity was incredulous. But you're going to nominate him for president?..."
Loose Shoes Dies
If you don't know the joke, then you're young. If you're old-- where have you been? Left In Aboite: Earl Butz has died at 98.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Comment Of The Day
From the comments at
Alec Baldwin: Defeating John McCain and the Continuation of the Bush Nightmare - Politics on The Huffington Post
"I'm a fan of sparkandy)
Alec Baldwin: Defeating John McCain and the Continuation of the Bush Nightmare - Politics on The Huffington Post
"I'm a fan of sparkandy)
The Democrats don't WANT to win. They want to be the party of the perpetual loss. They do their damndest to make sure they will lose. Edwards was their chance to pull in Republicans, Independents, and the downright apolitical and they threw away their chance. Why in the hell do they think those of us who are under that umbrella will vote for Obama or Clinton? All this talk about pulling the votes of those of us who are not hard core Democrats and uniting behind Obama is self delusion at it's most exquisite. McCain is going to win. And to those of you who let Edwards get away, just remember - you reap what you sow. And you've sown the seeds of another 4 years minimum of a Republican in the WH - because those of us who are not devoted Democrats, those of us you consider unnecessary for winning the election, are voting for McCain."
Not my hope, but it is my fear.
Not my hope, but it is my fear.
Marsh and Jong On Sen.Clinton
Before this excerpt, Marsh discusses so-called progressive bloggers who have done little but attack Sen.Clinton. I've dropped even looking at several of her examples because they have gone so far over the Obama deep-end and are doing little more than distributing Republican Clinton-talking points like oats in a corral.
Democrat Taylor Marsh Broadcasts Live Talk Radio and Blogs Politics:
"...Part of the primary story that has yet to be written is the secret sexism running rampant in progressive quarters and within our Democratic midst. I have never been so shocked as to see some supposed Democratic and progressive males react with such shameful sexist bias that is sometimes obvious, but also evidenced in unfair coverage of Clinton. It makes me even more grateful for those who have stood up against it, including liberated males who found their way here to my blog (and radio show). However, the experience has changed my opinion forever about the Democratic party, especially the online progressive community. On a personal note, the onslaught of "c" word emails and invectives used by Obama supporters has been sobering, as it has been expensive. Without a bartering deal with my tech team, AgoraNet, I wouldn't have been able to stop it. Not that attacking me personally bothers me at all. I think of Eleanor Roosevelt's quote: "Every woman in public life needs to develop skin as tough as rhinoceros hide." But the attacks have come because I have made the case for Clinton, after first starting out as simply a contrarian against a biased press attacking her. These hate emails have come because I dare to challenge the ideology and record of her main opponent. The attacks come from so called progressives, including emails from male bloggers warning me of my tone, my perseverance, even insinuating that by appreciating Clinton's record I am racist (revealing themselves instead). These Democratic males have shown no respect whatsoever for what I'm fighting for, but instead simply warn that I will regret my position and should adjust to reality, which includes the unquestioning genuflection and worship of her opponent, because they will need my voice once he wins. You guys need to read up.
Segue to Erica Jong's Hillary and the Patriarchy. It says the rest..."
Democrat Taylor Marsh Broadcasts Live Talk Radio and Blogs Politics:
"...Part of the primary story that has yet to be written is the secret sexism running rampant in progressive quarters and within our Democratic midst. I have never been so shocked as to see some supposed Democratic and progressive males react with such shameful sexist bias that is sometimes obvious, but also evidenced in unfair coverage of Clinton. It makes me even more grateful for those who have stood up against it, including liberated males who found their way here to my blog (and radio show). However, the experience has changed my opinion forever about the Democratic party, especially the online progressive community. On a personal note, the onslaught of "c" word emails and invectives used by Obama supporters has been sobering, as it has been expensive. Without a bartering deal with my tech team, AgoraNet, I wouldn't have been able to stop it. Not that attacking me personally bothers me at all. I think of Eleanor Roosevelt's quote: "Every woman in public life needs to develop skin as tough as rhinoceros hide." But the attacks have come because I have made the case for Clinton, after first starting out as simply a contrarian against a biased press attacking her. These hate emails have come because I dare to challenge the ideology and record of her main opponent. The attacks come from so called progressives, including emails from male bloggers warning me of my tone, my perseverance, even insinuating that by appreciating Clinton's record I am racist (revealing themselves instead). These Democratic males have shown no respect whatsoever for what I'm fighting for, but instead simply warn that I will regret my position and should adjust to reality, which includes the unquestioning genuflection and worship of her opponent, because they will need my voice once he wins. You guys need to read up.
Segue to Erica Jong's Hillary and the Patriarchy. It says the rest..."
Hillarycare More Comprehensive
AMERICAblog: A great nation deserves the truth
"Paul Krugman in the NYT:
"Paul Krugman in the NYT:
[N]ew estimates say that a plan resembling Mrs. Clinton’s would cover almost twice as many of those now uninsured as a plan resembling Mr. Obama’s — at only slightly higher cost....
Both plans require that private insurers offer policies to everyone, regardless of medical history. Both also allow people to buy into government-offered insurance instead.
And both plans seek to make insurance affordable to lower-income Americans. The Clinton plan is, however, more explicit about affordability, promising to limit insurance costs as a percentage of family income. And it also seems to include more funds for subsidies..."
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Troubling Honky Broads
Media Matters - Kristol: "White women are a problem, that's, you know -- we all live with that"
'On the February 3 edition of Fox Broadcasting Co.'s Fox News Sunday, panelist and New York Times columnist Bill Kristol said the only people supporting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (D-NY) presidential campaign "are the Democratic establishment and white women." Kristol then asserted that "it would be crazy for the Democratic Party to follow an establishment that's led it to defeat year after year," and added, "White women are a problem, that's, you know -- we all live with that." After fellow panelist Brit Hume responded, "Bill, for the record, I like white women," Kristol said, "I know, I shouldn't have said that..."'
'On the February 3 edition of Fox Broadcasting Co.'s Fox News Sunday, panelist and New York Times columnist Bill Kristol said the only people supporting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (D-NY) presidential campaign "are the Democratic establishment and white women." Kristol then asserted that "it would be crazy for the Democratic Party to follow an establishment that's led it to defeat year after year," and added, "White women are a problem, that's, you know -- we all live with that." After fellow panelist Brit Hume responded, "Bill, for the record, I like white women," Kristol said, "I know, I shouldn't have said that..."'
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Spine Minus Syndrome
Or what bipartisanship gets you.
Glenn Greenwald - Political Blogs and Opinions - Salon: "...On virtually every major controversial issue -- particularly, though not only, ones involving national security and terrorism -- the Republicans (including their vaunted mythical moderates and mavericks) vote in almost complete lockstep in favor of the President, the Democratic caucus splits, and the Republicans then get their way on every issue thanks to 'bipartisan' support. That's what 'bipartisanship' in Washington means...."
Glenn Greenwald - Political Blogs and Opinions - Salon: "...On virtually every major controversial issue -- particularly, though not only, ones involving national security and terrorism -- the Republicans (including their vaunted mythical moderates and mavericks) vote in almost complete lockstep in favor of the President, the Democratic caucus splits, and the Republicans then get their way on every issue thanks to 'bipartisan' support. That's what 'bipartisanship' in Washington means...."
Pricey Delegate
Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall | The Rudy Story
"Over $50 million for a single delegate.
"Over $50 million for a single delegate.
As the LA Times notes, that's the worst dollar for delegate record in American presidential history. The previous winner was John Connally who spent $11 million for a single delegate in 1980.
And at that rate Rudy would have needed $60 billion to win the nomination.
On the other hand, 9/11 did change everything."
Friday, February 01, 2008
About St. McCain
John McCain's trophy bride - AMERICAblog: A great nation deserves the truth
"He's running as a conservative in a party that touts "the sanctity of marriage" as one of their top issues. Therefore his having divorced his first wife because she was involved in a bad accident, and his having married his second wife, 17 years his junior, shortly thereafter, is relevant. John McCain likes to talk about he was a POW. He doesn't like to talk as much about how he ditched his wife a few years after returning home. If we're being asked to consider 8 more years of these people, and their morality, then it's time we inquired about their morality. McCain would like us to remember the hero part, then forget the trophy bride part, even though they both happened around the same time. You get one, you get the other. And he was 42 years old at the time, so let's stop excusing Republicans for their "youthful indiscretions" that happened about the time of menopause. The Bible doesn't have a statute of limitations. If we have to live by it, they have to live by it..." (much more).
"He's running as a conservative in a party that touts "the sanctity of marriage" as one of their top issues. Therefore his having divorced his first wife because she was involved in a bad accident, and his having married his second wife, 17 years his junior, shortly thereafter, is relevant. John McCain likes to talk about he was a POW. He doesn't like to talk as much about how he ditched his wife a few years after returning home. If we're being asked to consider 8 more years of these people, and their morality, then it's time we inquired about their morality. McCain would like us to remember the hero part, then forget the trophy bride part, even though they both happened around the same time. You get one, you get the other. And he was 42 years old at the time, so let's stop excusing Republicans for their "youthful indiscretions" that happened about the time of menopause. The Bible doesn't have a statute of limitations. If we have to live by it, they have to live by it..." (much more).
First Person Econ Horror
From the comments at TBogg - “…a somewhat popular blogger” » Do Adjunct Professors Dream of Rent-Contolled Ivory Towers?
" mmanion February 1st, 2008 at 11:15 am
" mmanion February 1st, 2008 at 11:15 am
13
Hmm…Guess my 21 y.o. daughter was one of those “greedy idiots.” She stopped in at a townhome development with a friend who was looking to buy and was convinced by the realtor that she, too, could qualify for a $180,000 mortgage using only her retail phone sales income. In addition to not making a huge salary, she has a genetic lung disease that causes her to spend lots of time in the hospital and further impacts her income. She was elated to think she could have her own little place. I was stunned that the realtor would even suggest it, but didn’t worry too much because I’ve purchased a few homes in my time and thought I knew a thing or two about qualifying. Boy had things changed. Imagine my surprise when, not only did they “qualify” her, the mortgage broker actually offered to come to the hospital so she could sign the paperwork–she had been out of work and in the hospital for two weeks at that point. Obviously, she was very naive and my efforts to put a halt to the proceedings only made me seem to the bad guy. After all, if the mortgage people thought she could do it, why couldn’t her own mother have the same faith? Her dream of home ownership lasted five months and, at age 22, her finances were trashed with a foreclosure on her record. If anyone doubts that predatory lending practices were going on, visualize if you will a young woman lying in a hospital bed connected to oxygen and tubing and a “helpful” mortgage guy in a dark suit looming over her with a pen and clipboard so she could sign her financial future away. I left the her hospital room in tears that day. Short of a top hat and handlebar mustache, I can’t imagine getting much closer to cartoon villains than that."
That sound is my teeth grinding into the pulp.
On Having No Memory
Democrat Taylor Marsh Broadcasts Live Talk Radio and Blogs Politics: "...As for MoveOn.org, Clinton stood up for them in the Senate during the Petraeus kerfuffle. Barack Obama ducked that vote (just like he did Kyl-Lieberman). But MoveOn members endorsed Obama anyway. Yeah, that's the way to hold those politicians accountable. That'll show 'im.
It brings me to John Edwards.
'If 2008 is different, it will be largely thanks to Mr. Edwards. He made a habit of introducing bold policy proposals — and they were met with such enthusiasm among Democrats that his rivals were more or less forced to follow suit.
It’s hard, in particular, to overstate the importance of the Edwards health care plan, introduced in February. ... ..
... .. Furthermore, to the extent that this remains a campaign of ideas, it remains true that on the key issue of health care, the Clinton plan is more or less identical to the Edwards plan. The Obama plan, which doesn’t actually achieve universal coverage, is considerably weaker.
The Edwards Effect'
He didn't get near the support he deserved from progressives. He worked for it too. You can quibble about a lot of things regarding Edwards as a senator. If you want to talk in adjectives alone, calling Edwards slick or whatever slam you want to bring, I'd say just take a look at Obama's record. You'll find that and more. But during the primaries, when compared to Obama, if you're looking for an anti Hillary, Edwards was the guy. Few seemed to care. He didn't get the coverage and he didn't have the flash (or the cash). Oh, but he did have one thing: IDEAS. Isn't that something progressives are supposed to covet? Clinton's got ideas too, lots of them, but if you don't like her as a candidate, you had to choose. So they did. Barack Obama over John Edwards? I don't see it and don't understand it and never will. Maybe someone can explain it to me.
It brings me to John Edwards.
'If 2008 is different, it will be largely thanks to Mr. Edwards. He made a habit of introducing bold policy proposals — and they were met with such enthusiasm among Democrats that his rivals were more or less forced to follow suit.
It’s hard, in particular, to overstate the importance of the Edwards health care plan, introduced in February. ... ..
... .. Furthermore, to the extent that this remains a campaign of ideas, it remains true that on the key issue of health care, the Clinton plan is more or less identical to the Edwards plan. The Obama plan, which doesn’t actually achieve universal coverage, is considerably weaker.
The Edwards Effect'
He didn't get near the support he deserved from progressives. He worked for it too. You can quibble about a lot of things regarding Edwards as a senator. If you want to talk in adjectives alone, calling Edwards slick or whatever slam you want to bring, I'd say just take a look at Obama's record. You'll find that and more. But during the primaries, when compared to Obama, if you're looking for an anti Hillary, Edwards was the guy. Few seemed to care. He didn't get the coverage and he didn't have the flash (or the cash). Oh, but he did have one thing: IDEAS. Isn't that something progressives are supposed to covet? Clinton's got ideas too, lots of them, but if you don't like her as a candidate, you had to choose. So they did. Barack Obama over John Edwards? I don't see it and don't understand it and never will. Maybe someone can explain it to me.
But until that happens, all I see is progressive confusion. Good meaning people falling for glitz, glamour, facade and flash over substance, whether you're talking Clinton or Edwards. I'm proud to stand independent of that herd."
White House Criminals
George W. Bush Is a Criminal, Like His Dad | The Smirking Chimp: "Watching Attorney General Michael Mukasey evade the obvious fact that waterboarding is torture – and the reluctance of Democrats to press him – I was reminded of how the first President Bush got away with an earlier batch of national security crimes.
Indeed, one of the common questions I’ve been asked over the years is – if the evidence really does show that the Reagan-Bush crowd was guilty of illegal dealings with Iran, Iraq and the Nicaraguan contras – why didn’t the Democrats hold those Republicans to account?..."
Indeed, one of the common questions I’ve been asked over the years is – if the evidence really does show that the Reagan-Bush crowd was guilty of illegal dealings with Iran, Iraq and the Nicaraguan contras – why didn’t the Democrats hold those Republicans to account?..."
ClintonCare Smeared
The Raw Story | Obama accused of demagoguing for anti-Clinton mailer: "Barack Obama's presidential campaign is mailing out a flyer attacking Hillary Clinton's healthcare plan in ways that recall infamous advertisements from the health insurance industry launched against her previous ill-fated universal healthcare effort..."
Thursday, January 31, 2008
On TK's Endorsement
Democrat Taylor Marsh Broadcasts Live Talk Radio and Blogs Politics: "Hell Hath No Fury Like a Kennedy Scorned"
"...There's more to Sen. Edward Kennedy's endorsement of Barack Obama than meets the eye. Apparently, part of the reason why the liberal lion from Massachusetts embraced Obama was because of a perceived slight at the Kennedy family's civil rights legacy by the other Democratic presidential primary frontrunner, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).
and furthermore
"Well, Teddy does have a history of these things. He kept Sargent Shriver off the dem ticket in 68 cause he didn't want a Kennedy in-law getting a shot at the Presidency, before a Kennedy (read:Me) and who can forget his ill-fated attempt to unseat Jimmy Carter in 1980, taking that all the way to the convention, even though Carter crushed him in the primaries. I doubt Carter could have won the election anyway, but Teddy's divisive campaign thoroughly took all of the energy out of the convention. None of this is surprising to me. It fits a pattern. read more in the comment section below..."
Wow. All this and the impending Obama/ Kenya scandal, too.
"...There's more to Sen. Edward Kennedy's endorsement of Barack Obama than meets the eye. Apparently, part of the reason why the liberal lion from Massachusetts embraced Obama was because of a perceived slight at the Kennedy family's civil rights legacy by the other Democratic presidential primary frontrunner, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).
Sources say Kennedy was privately furious at Clinton for her praise of President Lyndon Baines Johnson for getting the 1964 Civil Rights Act accomplished. Jealously guarding the legacy of the Kennedy family dynasty, Senator Kennedy felt Clinton's LBJ comments were an implicit slight of his brother, President John F. Kennedy, who first proposed the landmark civil rights initiative in a famous televised civil rights address in June 1963.
One anonymous source described Kennedy as having a "meltdown" in reaction to Clinton's comments. ..."and furthermore
"Well, Teddy does have a history of these things. He kept Sargent Shriver off the dem ticket in 68 cause he didn't want a Kennedy in-law getting a shot at the Presidency, before a Kennedy (read:Me) and who can forget his ill-fated attempt to unseat Jimmy Carter in 1980, taking that all the way to the convention, even though Carter crushed him in the primaries. I doubt Carter could have won the election anyway, but Teddy's divisive campaign thoroughly took all of the energy out of the convention. None of this is surprising to me. It fits a pattern. read more in the comment section below..."
Wow. All this and the impending Obama/ Kenya scandal, too.
Declining Fox
Media Matters - Fox News is in for a very rough 2008: "...Bottom line is that Fox News is in for a very rough 2008. And the umbrella reason for that is quite simple: Eight years ago the all-news cable channel went all-in on the presidency of George Bush and became a broadcast partner with the White House. Proof of that was on display Sunday night, January 27, during Fox News' prime-time, 'Fighting to the Finish,' an 'historic documentary' on the final year of Bush's presidency. Filmed in HD and featuring 'unprecedented access,' according to the Fox News press release, the show was pure propaganda. (I must have missed Fox News' 'Fighting to the Finish' special back in 2000, chronicling the conclusion of President Bill Clinton's second term and his 'extraordinarily consequential tenure.')
The point is that Fox News years ago made an obvious decision to appeal almost exclusively to Republican viewers. The good news then for Fox News was that it succeeded. The bad news now for Fox News is that it succeeded..."
The point is that Fox News years ago made an obvious decision to appeal almost exclusively to Republican viewers. The good news then for Fox News was that it succeeded. The bad news now for Fox News is that it succeeded..."
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
It's 3:13 A.M.
Gloom, doom, desperation, and hopelessness has settled its sooty cloak through every nook and cranny of Mad In The Middle. John Edwards has stepped aside.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
From The Straight Talk Express
McCain is now gay-baiting - AMERICAblog: A great nation deserves the truth:
"That didn't take long. So much for our maverick. When the going gets tough, John McCain goes queer bashing. Note his adoption of the religious right buzz-phrase 'special rights.' Considering McCain helped shoot down a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, I'm just curious how he defines 'special rights.' McCain has always surrounding himself with gay men. Ever since I worked on the Hill in the late 80s, early 90s, McCain always had gay men on staff in senior positions. Openly gay men. Gay men who had no problem helping the gay rights movement. Gay men who people like McCain would call 'gay activists.' McCain had zero problem helping powerful openly-gay men advance in Washington, DC. He currently has no problem employing them at the highest reaches of his campaign - the highest reaches - helping them work their 'special rights' agenda in his campaign and beyond. But now we're to believe that McCain suddenly has a problem with the gays and their 'special rights...'"
"That didn't take long. So much for our maverick. When the going gets tough, John McCain goes queer bashing. Note his adoption of the religious right buzz-phrase 'special rights.' Considering McCain helped shoot down a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, I'm just curious how he defines 'special rights.' McCain has always surrounding himself with gay men. Ever since I worked on the Hill in the late 80s, early 90s, McCain always had gay men on staff in senior positions. Openly gay men. Gay men who had no problem helping the gay rights movement. Gay men who people like McCain would call 'gay activists.' McCain had zero problem helping powerful openly-gay men advance in Washington, DC. He currently has no problem employing them at the highest reaches of his campaign - the highest reaches - helping them work their 'special rights' agenda in his campaign and beyond. But now we're to believe that McCain suddenly has a problem with the gays and their 'special rights...'"
It's Not Over Yet
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Gruesome find in Iraqi province
"Nine bodies and 10 severed heads have been discovered near Miqdadiya, north-east of Baghdad, Iraqi police say.
"Nine bodies and 10 severed heads have been discovered near Miqdadiya, north-east of Baghdad, Iraqi police say.
The 19 victims were all male and some had died in recent days, said a Diyala province police spokesman..."
Monday, January 28, 2008
The Women Are Angry
And I say good for them. They have reason to be. See the comment thread at this post for examples. Democrat Taylor Marsh Broadcasts Live Talk Radio and Blogs Politics
"Why is NY NOW so Ticked Off at Teddy?
Boy, is NY NOW ticked off.
To say that I have a very complicated relationship with NOW is an understatement. As full disclosure, I do not back or give money to NOW, Planned Parenthood or NARAL, though all three groups do more collectively for women than I will in a lifetime. I just find their militancy often very strident, with their expectations of Democratic candidates to genuflect to their agenda counterproductive..."
Media and Liberal Biases Displayed?
MLK III and Caroline Kennedy: Why the Different Treatment? (Sirotablog)
"I was watching CNN on Saturday and the broadcast was broken into by a "breaking news" graphic letting the world know that Caroline Kennedy was going to write an op-ed saying nice things about Barack Obama. This "breaking news" was then repeated for the rest of the evening, and was echoed throughout the rest of the media.
"I was watching CNN on Saturday and the broadcast was broken into by a "breaking news" graphic letting the world know that Caroline Kennedy was going to write an op-ed saying nice things about Barack Obama. This "breaking news" was then repeated for the rest of the evening, and was echoed throughout the rest of the media.
That's all fine, but here's what's troubling: Other than brief mentions in print newspapers, why was there no news at all when Martin Luther King III released a letter praising John Edwards campaign?
Now, you can say it's because King didn't "officially" endorse Edwards and Kennedy "officially" endorsed Obama, but I'd say that's a huge stretch in explaining the difference in coverage. King's letter was about as strongly supportive as I've seen a surrogate be, and in begging Edwards to stay in the race, it both indicted the other candidates and was certainly newsworthy within the ongoing storyline of "should Edwards stay in or drop out?"
So again - why the difference? It is a really important question about the inherent biases in our media debate - biases that are both race- and class-based. It is news when the offspring of powerful whites signal it is acceptable to vote for a black candidate, but not news when the offspring of America's foremost black civil rights leader signals support for a white candidate. At the even deeper level of economic class, the media respects wealth and Establishment power, and so it is "breaking news" when a the daughter of John F. Kennedy - the icon of the Kennedy clan - says nice things about a candidate, but not news when the son of Martin Luther King, Jr. - the head of a movement of poor and disenfranchised people - says nice things about a candidate..."
Lawyers Boost Edwards For AG
AG Edwards? | The Trail | washingtonpost.com
"That's an idea that has been gaining currency among some of his closest supporters -- U.S. trial lawyers who gathered this weekend in Puerto Rico for an annual winter conference.
"That's an idea that has been gaining currency among some of his closest supporters -- U.S. trial lawyers who gathered this weekend in Puerto Rico for an annual winter conference.
"I sure would hope there will be a role for him," said Gibson Vance, a Mongtomery, Ala., trial lawyer who has been a longtime friend and supporter of Edwards. "He would be a heck of a tough attorney general. Think about it..."
I've been going on about this for a while: here and here.Sunday, January 27, 2008
Now To Clinton Derangement Syndrome
Democrat Taylor Marsh Broadcasts Live Talk Radio and Blogs Politics: "Nothing like a self important male explaining to the ladies what feminism is all about. One of Andrew Sullivan's readers evidently transcribed a segment on "Hardball" from yesterday, with a woman telling it like it is, which resulted in a full blown Clinton Derangement Syndrome meltdown from Sullivan. ."
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Ideas Are Not Created Equal
Were Republicans 'the Party of Ideas'? | The Smirking Chimp: "Hillary Clinton took a cheap shot at Barack Obama in suggesting that he liked the right-wing policies from the past couple of decades. But it’s troubling, too, that Obama would buy into Washington’s conventional wisdom that “the Republicans were the party of ideas for a pretty long chunk of time...”"
Yeah. The Party of Ideas--bad ideas.
Yeah. The Party of Ideas--bad ideas.
Standing For The First
Basketball coach won't cave to pressure from the ultra-conservative Archbishop of St. Louis - AMERICAblog: A great nation deserves the truth
"Looks like the Archbishop of St. Louis, the one who wanted to deny communion to John Kerry in 2004, has met his match. The basketball coach of St. Louis University, Rick Majerus, supports Hillary Clinton, a women's right to choose and stem cell research. The Archbishop wants to quash him -- and the coach is having none of it:
"Looks like the Archbishop of St. Louis, the one who wanted to deny communion to John Kerry in 2004, has met his match. The basketball coach of St. Louis University, Rick Majerus, supports Hillary Clinton, a women's right to choose and stem cell research. The Archbishop wants to quash him -- and the coach is having none of it:
Majerus took a typically defiant stand in an interview published Thursday in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.Good answer..."
"These beliefs are ingrained in me," Majerus told the paper. "And my First Amendment right to free speech supersedes anything that the archbishop would order me to do. My dad fought on Okinawa in World War II. My uncle died in World War II. I had classmates die in Vietnam. And it was to preserve our way of life, so people like me could have an opinion."
Friday, January 25, 2008
Edwards Says "No" To Spying
Join the Campaign to Change America / John Edwards '08 Blog
"Senator Edwards sent the following email to supporters this afternoon.
"Senator Edwards sent the following email to supporters this afternoon.
When it comes to protecting the rule of law, words are not enough. We need action.
It's wrong for your government to spy on you. That's why I'm asking you to join me today in calling on Senate Democrats to filibuster revisions to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) that would give "retroactive immunity" to the giant telecom companies for their role in aiding George W. Bush's illegal eavesdropping on American citizens.
The Senate is debating this issue right now -- which is why we must act right now. You can find your Senators' phone numbers here or call the Senate Switchboard at 1-(202)-224-3121.
Granting retroactive immunity is wrong. It will let corporate law-breakers off the hook. It will hamstring efforts to learn the truth about Bush's illegal spying program. And it will flip on its head a core principle that has guided our nation since our founding: the belief that no one, no matter how well connected or what office they hold, is above the law.
But in Washington today, the telecom lobbyists have launched a full-court press for retroactive immunity. George Bush and Dick Cheney are doing everything in their power to ensure it passes. And too many Senate Democrats are ready to give the lobbyists and the Bush administration exactly what they want.
Please join me in calling on every Senate Democrat to do everything in their power -- including joining Senator Dodd's efforts to filibuster this legislation -- to stop retroactive immunity and stand up for the rule of law. The Constitution should not be for sale at any price.
Thank you for taking action.
John Edwards
January 24, 2008"
Mitt The Winner
Talking Points Memo | Final Thoughts: "...Candidly, I was surprised that there wasn't more contentiousness in tonight's GOP debate in Florida. After all, probably at least two candidacies will end Tuesday night. So the stakes were extraordinarily high. Rudy could barely keep a straight face when claiming he was going to win on Tuesday. So let's be happy for him that he's moving past denial and anger to acceptance. He's done. Huckabee had some good lines. But I don't think it will change his sinking position in the polls. McCain was fine but not stellar. I think the night was Romney's. As many have said, the economy is his territory, far more than foreign policy. He had a strong, prepared presence. And the key is that he didn't have all his opponents knocking him over the head for his terrible addiction to flipflopping on every issue imaginable..."
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Darth Did It
Mayor Giuliani, it was Dick Cheney who cut our armed forces by 20%, not Bill Clinton - AMERICAblog: A great nation deserves the truth
"Rudy Giuliani just said, again, that it was Bill Clinton who cut the military in the 1990s. Wrong, it was Dick Cheney, and the proof is on the Department of Defense's own Web site, in Dick Cheney's official bio:
"Rudy Giuliani just said, again, that it was Bill Clinton who cut the military in the 1990s. Wrong, it was Dick Cheney, and the proof is on the Department of Defense's own Web site, in Dick Cheney's official bio:
In subsequent years under Cheney the budgets proposed and the final outcomes followed patterns similar to the FY 1990 budget experience. Early in 1991 the secretary unveiled a plan to reduce military strength by the mid-1990s to 1.6 million, compared to 2.2 million when he entered office..."
CUNT Attack
Welcome To The Gutter: Right-Wing 527 Hits New Low - Politics on The Huffington Post
"As if we needed a reminder that the 2008 Presidential Election is poised to become the most embarrassing, shame-filled miasma of our lifetimes, a 527 group calling themselves Citizens United Not Timid has been formed to basically ensure that the voices of misogynist reprobates and their opinions on the Hillary Clinton campaign will be heard. The organization takes great pains to put the first letters in their four word name in boldface, and just so you get the point, their crude logo hammers the message home..."
"As if we needed a reminder that the 2008 Presidential Election is poised to become the most embarrassing, shame-filled miasma of our lifetimes, a 527 group calling themselves Citizens United Not Timid has been formed to basically ensure that the voices of misogynist reprobates and their opinions on the Hillary Clinton campaign will be heard. The organization takes great pains to put the first letters in their four word name in boldface, and just so you get the point, their crude logo hammers the message home..."
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
935 Lies
Talking Points Memo | Today's Must Read: "Lies, lies, and more lies.
The Bush Administration's 935 false statements in the two years following September 11, 2001, about the national security threat posed by Saddam Hussein's Iraq are finally cataloged."
The Bush Administration's 935 false statements in the two years following September 11, 2001, about the national security threat posed by Saddam Hussein's Iraq are finally cataloged."
Disgusting
FOX host mocks Heath Ledger's death - AMERICAblog: A great nation deserves the truth: "Some things shock, even when they come from a top FOX News host. Could be your dead son this man is mocking to all of his listeners. Think about that."
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Institutional Memory
Dave "Mudcat" Saunders: Only John Edwards Can Beat McCain - Politics on The Huffington Post: "...As I watched news coverage of Monday night's debate, the ever-escalating 'I know you are, but what am I?' fight between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton suddenly struck a memory from 28 years back. The feud between Teddy Kennedy and Jimmy Carter rushed into my mind like a horrible memory of an old girlfriend. My recollection of their self-destructive hostilities reminded me how their battles went a long ways toward giving this nation Ronald Reagan.
It was 1980, and the Democratic Party had two supposedly strong national candidates--one an incumbent president, the other a scion of America's national family. They were going up against a Republican Party that was searching for an identity and would go deep on the bench to nominate the host of 'Death Valley Days'..."
It was 1980, and the Democratic Party had two supposedly strong national candidates--one an incumbent president, the other a scion of America's national family. They were going up against a Republican Party that was searching for an identity and would go deep on the bench to nominate the host of 'Death Valley Days'..."
Social Security Lies
Click on the link for CNN's fear fabrication video,
Crooks and Liars » The Situation Room: Pushing White House Memes On Social Security
"CNN clearly is gunning for FOXNews’ spot as the propaganda department for the White House and Wall Street. Why else would they need to introduce a segment on the various candidates’ stances on Social Security thusly?:
Crooks and Liars » The Situation Room: Pushing White House Memes On Social Security
"CNN clearly is gunning for FOXNews’ spot as the propaganda department for the White House and Wall Street. Why else would they need to introduce a segment on the various candidates’ stances on Social Security thusly?:
Voters know that Social Security is a financial time bomb that needs fixing. The latest government calculation is that the system will go bust—be out of money– in 2041. So voters paying in want something done.
Um, no. For the record, Social Security is not a time bomb–nice imagery, CNN. Common sense tells you that–if left alone (granted, a huge IF)–there will always be more people paying into Social Security than SSI is paying out, even with the baby boomer generation. It’s a self-sustaining system as FDR designed it. You know who wants you to believe that there is a financial crisis? The Bush White House obviously, but also their cronies on Wall Street, just rubbing their collective hands in anticipation of getting a hold on private accounts to manage.
To keep furthering the false memes, CNN interviews a Giuliani supporter who doesn’t believe that Social Security will be available to him (maybe because you keep telling him that, CNN?) and goes through first the Republican candidates’ support for Bush’s private accounts either in toto or in part. The Democratic candidates? They “just want to raise taxes” (hmmm…taking our framing from Grover Norquist again?). Technically correct, but definitely a Republican framing of raising the cap on income from its current cap of $90,000 a year. As it stands, the person who makes $1,000,000/ year pays the same payroll tax as the person who makes $95,000. Imagine the benefits of lifting the cap.
But giving the general populace (and more importantly in this election year, the electorate) the real facts so that they can make decisions that will be in their best interests, well, that just wouldn’t be newsworthy, would it, CNN?"
Monday, January 21, 2008
Lest We Forget: Reagan Edition
Hale "Bonddad" Stewart: Ronald Reagan: Fiscal Disaster - Business on The Huffington Post
"There's been a great deal of back of forth about Clinton and Obama and what they have said about Reagan. Personally, I've missed most of it. Being a stock market person I've been a little preoccupied over the last few weeks. But, I think it's time to chime in on the debate because the underlying facts -- those pesky things -- aren't very flattering to Reagan. In fact, the facts -- again, those pesky annoying things -- indicate that Reagan was a complete and total fiscal disaster..."
Uh, er, I thought that was Carter's fault. (See the graphs and stats at the link.)
"There's been a great deal of back of forth about Clinton and Obama and what they have said about Reagan. Personally, I've missed most of it. Being a stock market person I've been a little preoccupied over the last few weeks. But, I think it's time to chime in on the debate because the underlying facts -- those pesky things -- aren't very flattering to Reagan. In fact, the facts -- again, those pesky annoying things -- indicate that Reagan was a complete and total fiscal disaster..."
Uh, er, I thought that was Carter's fault. (See the graphs and stats at the link.)
Sunday, January 20, 2008
The Calendar Is Ticking
One More Year - AMERICAblog: A great nation deserves the truth: "One year from today, at noon, we get a new President. The Bush reign will end. He still has one full year to wreak destruction on the U.S. and the world. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Just need to make sure that it's a Democrat taking the oath of office a year from today."
Just need to make sure that it's a Democrat taking the oath of office a year from today."
Marsh Talks ODS
Democrat Taylor Marsh Broadcasts Live Talk Radio and Blogs Politics: "...As for voting for Obama even though he's the least progressive, it's got the possibility of cracking this party in two at a time when we have a real chance at winning the White House. But Obama Derangement Syndrome has been born, with a foundation that's deep and hard. From 'present' votes, to ducking Kyl-Lieberman, to making a speech against Iraq with no action since, and on and on, topped with Obama throwing Bill Clinton (the only two term Democratic president since F.D.R.) under a bus to prop up Ronald Reagan, it's clear his allegiance isn't to the Democratic party, but to himself alone. Oh, and his reaction to Clinton clearly beating him yesterday in Nevada hasn't helped. What has also hurt Obama a great deal is his unhinged fan base. They represent the thuggery that was also seen the last ten days in Nevada by Obama. Because of all these developments more and more people are already saying they will not work for him if he's our nominee. I hear it all the time. Now, people may hold their nose and vote for him in November, though that's also not clear right now, but if he's the nominee many people are saying he'll have to get to the White House by himself.
Sound familiar?"
Sound familiar?"
Franks Frosted
I'm glad someone besides me noticed Franks' folly and was just as offended as I was: Crooks and Liars » Face The Nation: Bob Schieffer Scolds Gen Tommy Franks
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Unions Are Foot-Shooting
Ian Welsh: The Glorious Future that American Unions Walked Away From - Politics on The Huffington Post: "...John Edwards has spent the last four years working with unions, walking their picket lines and making their cause his. He's clearly the most pro-union of the three remaining candidates; his primary issue is economic justice and he believes that corporations have too much power. His campaign, from the very beginning, was predicated on union support.
But unions didn't reciprocate..."
But unions didn't reciprocate..."
Darth Squad Woes
Secret Service: Detailed Look at ’06 Turmoil - New York Times
"DENVER — The arrest of a man named Steven Howards in June 2006 after he approached Vice President Dick Cheney at a Colorado ski resort and denounced the war in Iraq might have seemed, at the time, no more than a blip on the vice president’s schedule.
But now the blip has become a blowup, with Secret Service agents — under oath in court depositions — accusing one another of unethical and perhaps even illegal conduct in the handling of Mr. Howards’s arrest and the official accounting of it..."
"DENVER — The arrest of a man named Steven Howards in June 2006 after he approached Vice President Dick Cheney at a Colorado ski resort and denounced the war in Iraq might have seemed, at the time, no more than a blip on the vice president’s schedule.
But now the blip has become a blowup, with Secret Service agents — under oath in court depositions — accusing one another of unethical and perhaps even illegal conduct in the handling of Mr. Howards’s arrest and the official accounting of it..."
Friday, January 18, 2008
Edwards Complains About Clinton's Treatment
CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive - Edwards hits Obama on independent ads « - Blogs from CNN.com
" (CNN) — John Edwards said Friday that Barack Obama needs to “speak up, if he really means what he says” about ending divisive politics and denounce a Nevada ad funded by an independent group that supports the Illinois senator’s presidential bid.
" (CNN) — John Edwards said Friday that Barack Obama needs to “speak up, if he really means what he says” about ending divisive politics and denounce a Nevada ad funded by an independent group that supports the Illinois senator’s presidential bid.
The spot, running on Spanish-language radio in the state, criticizes Hillary Clinton for a lawsuit filed by some of her Nevada supporters that had sought new restrictions workplace caucus sites this Saturday. The buy is funded by the Unite Here Campaign Committee on behalf of the Culinary Workers Union, which has endorsed Obama..."
KO Does A Strange
Horses Mouth January 18, 2008 4:02 PM: "Keith Olbermann made a big boo-boo on MSNCB last night. When he learned of it, he had a deeply bizarre, almost-unheard-of reaction:
He admitted he was wrong and apologized..."
He admitted he was wrong and apologized..."
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Paid Trolls
...something we don't have here, but this post explores the topic: The Low Spark of Well-Heeled Trolls | The Smirking Chimp
Homeless Vets
Paul Rieckhoff: O'Reilly Downplays Number of Homeless Veterans - Politics on The Huffington Post
"...Bill, here are the facts. Veterans represent one-third of the adult homeless population in this country, and that number is rising. While almost 200,000 homeless veterans line the nation's streets every night, almost twice as many experience homelessness at some point throughout the course of a year. Essentially, we have the population of Des Moines, Iowa or Montgomery, Alabama "sleeping under bridges."
"...Bill, here are the facts. Veterans represent one-third of the adult homeless population in this country, and that number is rising. While almost 200,000 homeless veterans line the nation's streets every night, almost twice as many experience homelessness at some point throughout the course of a year. Essentially, we have the population of Des Moines, Iowa or Montgomery, Alabama "sleeping under bridges."
This is a national disgrace. As Americans we should be ashamed and outraged that the brave men and women of our Armed Forces are being abandoned under bridges, not denying their existence. As one of the most watched cable news hosts on television, Bill O'Reilly has a great opportunity to help homeless veterans by bringing more attention to the issue. Join IAVA in urging him to be part of the solution (www.BillwasWrong.com)..."
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
McCain Swiftboated
Crooks and Liars » Countdown: Dirty South Carolina Politics & The Swiftboating Of John McCain: "...Keith Olbermann talks with Jonathan Alter on today’s Countdown about negative campaign ads being distributed in South Carolina attacking GOP candidates and about a particularly nasty flier attacking Senator John McCain by a group calling itself Vietnam Veterans Against John McCain that accuses the senator, who was held captive in Vietnam for some five years, of betraying his fellow POW’s during his captivity. This group’s website is really cheesy, and regardless of your political views, this kind of attack is the epitome of dirty politics. The flier is so bad the original Swift Boat Veterans for Truth group that attacked John Kerry is condemning it..."
Remembering Ron
Firedoglake - Firedoglake weblog » Obama and Ronald Reagan’s Slipping Halo
"No, Ronald Reagan didn't appeal to people's optimism, he appealed to their petty, small minded bigotry and selfishness. Jimmy Carter told people to tighten their energy belts and act for the good of the country; Ronald Reagan told them they could guzzle gas with impunity and do whatever the hell they wanted. He kicked off his 1980 campaign talking about "state's rights" in Philadelphia, Mississippi -- the site of the murder of three civil rights workers in 1964's Freedom Summer. He thus put up a welcome sign for "Reagan Democrats," peeling off white voters who were unhappy with the multi-ethnic coalition within the Democratic Party..."
"No, Ronald Reagan didn't appeal to people's optimism, he appealed to their petty, small minded bigotry and selfishness. Jimmy Carter told people to tighten their energy belts and act for the good of the country; Ronald Reagan told them they could guzzle gas with impunity and do whatever the hell they wanted. He kicked off his 1980 campaign talking about "state's rights" in Philadelphia, Mississippi -- the site of the murder of three civil rights workers in 1964's Freedom Summer. He thus put up a welcome sign for "Reagan Democrats," peeling off white voters who were unhappy with the multi-ethnic coalition within the Democratic Party..."
On The Las Vegas Lawsuit
Democrat Taylor Marsh Broadcasts Live Talk Radio and Blogs Politics: "...That said, I've come to the conclusion that it will likely be thrown out, but not because it doesn't have merit or 'stinks' as some bloviating males have judged. This Sun article puts it exactly right, I believe. It was filed way too late. Because the truth is that teachers, who are named in the suit, will be disenfranchised, not unlike many were in Iowa. Where was Kerry and Obama there? At least Clinton has been consistent; she thinks the caucus system disenfranchises across the board (my words not hers, obviously). In addition, I've heard that the casinos are none too happy about this one, especially since it's a caucus and not just a quick vote. This puts a lot of pressure on workers, with bosses watching their moves and the clock. What does Kerry say about the teachers who can't vote? How about so many others who can't vote because they have to work? It's all about the casino workers, because they endorsed Obama. That's what bleeds through in Kerry's post. But you almost feel sorry for him. It's clear he'll never get over not fighting when he should have, so he fights now to 'let the people vote,' as long as it's people who are voting for his guy..."
CNN Hacks At Greenwald
Interesting post about Greenwald's critique of a John McCain interview. Glenn Greenwald - Political Blogs and Opinions - Salon
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
HuckAmendment
AMERICAblog: A great nation deserves the truth
"From TPM Election Central:
"From TPM Election Central:
At a Michigan campaign event last night, Mike Huckabee gave an interesting reason for why he wants to amend the Constitution to ban both abortion and gay marriage: Otherwise, the Constitution would be in conflict with God.So, would that include adding anti-Catholic language to the Constitution? I mean, clearly Huckabee's version of Christianity includes none of the rest of us Christians, or anybody else, so what he really wants to do is amend the US Constitution to bring it more in line with Baptist theology. That should put a shudder into every non-Baptist in America."
Huckabee first observed that some of his opponents don't want to amend the Constitution on both of these topics. "But I believe it's a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living God," Huckabee said. "And that's what we need to do, is to amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards rather than try to change God's standards."
Carter Curses!
Well. Not really. It's Onion satire-- and Carter surely didn't write it, but it might just catch his inner feelings about his country-- and it's a powerful reminder that he had the answers 25 years ago, but he was ruined by his own party and the media. Review the past. (Link is not work-safe). I Got What America Needs Right Here | The Onion - America's Finest News Source
Monday, January 14, 2008
Polling No One Knows
Firedoglake - Firedoglake weblog » The Polls You Won’t Hear Much About
"...2) John Edwards is by far the Democrats' strongest candidate in the general election. He is the only one who is not beaten outright by any Republican candidate: He ties with Giuliani at 44% each, but easily beats McCain, Thompson, Romney, and Huckabee, the latter two by double-digit margins.
"...2) John Edwards is by far the Democrats' strongest candidate in the general election. He is the only one who is not beaten outright by any Republican candidate: He ties with Giuliani at 44% each, but easily beats McCain, Thompson, Romney, and Huckabee, the latter two by double-digit margins.
3) Hillary Clinton is the weakest Democratic candidate in the general election. She loses to every single Republican except Fred Thompson and Ron Paul, and neither of those two gents is going to get the Republican nomination for president.
4) Barack Obama is in between Edwards and Hillary Clinton in strength in the general election. He does much better against Rudy Giuliani than either Edwards or Clinton, beaing Giuliani 37% to 47%, yet against every other Republican, especially McCain and Romney, Edwards is the Democrat that does the best..."
Obama Contrian
Democrat Taylor Marsh Broadcasts Live Talk Radio and Blogs Politics:
"Lambasted for Not Drinking the Obama Kool-Aid
Expert guest post by Michael K. Fauntroy It’s hard out here for Black pundits/analysts/commentators who haven’t come around to drinking the Barack Obama is the best-thing-since-sliced-bread-how-did-we-ever-exist-as-a-nation-without-him-this-is-
our-last-best-chance-to-elect-a-Black-president-so-we-better-support-him-see-I-told-
you-racism-is-dead Kool-Aid. I have learned an unfortunate lesson in observing the Democratic presidential nomination fight: In too many segments of the country – Black and White – to express any skepticism about Barack Obama is considered political heresy. I’m blown away by this discovery, because it suggests a dangerous group think: Obama is the only agent of change and to not praise him at every opportunity is to support the status quo (And, oh, by the way, Hilary is the devil!)..." Read on...
"Lambasted for Not Drinking the Obama Kool-Aid
Expert guest post by Michael K. Fauntroy It’s hard out here for Black pundits/analysts/commentators who haven’t come around to drinking the Barack Obama is the best-thing-since-sliced-bread-how-did-we-ever-exist-as-a-nation-without-him-this-is-
our-last-best-chance-to-elect-a-Black-president-so-we-better-support-him-see-I-told-
you-racism-is-dead Kool-Aid. I have learned an unfortunate lesson in observing the Democratic presidential nomination fight: In too many segments of the country – Black and White – to express any skepticism about Barack Obama is considered political heresy. I’m blown away by this discovery, because it suggests a dangerous group think: Obama is the only agent of change and to not praise him at every opportunity is to support the status quo (And, oh, by the way, Hilary is the devil!)..." Read on...
Sunday, January 13, 2008
You Are Bailing-Out Countrywide
Guess who is going to help fund the Countrywide bailout? - AMERICAblog: A great nation deserves the truth
Of course...taxpayers. The middle class. Hell, let's just round up all of the bad debt from the war, the fools that tried get rich quick schemes with subprime mortgages, Wall Street executive payouts and then just send the bill to regular folks. Oh sorry, it's already happening. Naturally options for writing off losses by individuals is slightly more limited, with limits of only a few thousand dollars per year.
Of course...taxpayers. The middle class. Hell, let's just round up all of the bad debt from the war, the fools that tried get rich quick schemes with subprime mortgages, Wall Street executive payouts and then just send the bill to regular folks. Oh sorry, it's already happening. Naturally options for writing off losses by individuals is slightly more limited, with limits of only a few thousand dollars per year.
A $270 million annual deduction would save Bank of America something more than $100 million a year in federal and state income taxes. The long-term tax-exempt rate, which is based on Treasury rates and other things so complicated that they make my teeth hurt. The rate changes each year, Willens says, but not by much. When I asked how it's calculated, Willens, a master of tax arcana, threw up his hands. (Metaphorically, of course.) "It's like the formula for Coca-Cola," he said, "no one outside the circle knows it" and it's so complicated that, "no one else wants to find out."
First Amendment Time Loop
Daily Kos: Admirers of Constitution Booted for Wearing Impeach T-shirts in DC
"With the original First Amendment "Freedom of Speech" looking on, admirers of the U.S. Constitution in the Washington D.C. National Archives Building today were ordered to leave for wearing tee-shirts reading "Impeach Bush and Cheney." Many of the tourist-activists were in town to hail the arrival of impeachment marcher John Nirenberg, the 61 year-old college professor who has just walked from Boston to D.C. to call attention to the need for the impeachment of Bush and Cheney.
"With the original First Amendment "Freedom of Speech" looking on, admirers of the U.S. Constitution in the Washington D.C. National Archives Building today were ordered to leave for wearing tee-shirts reading "Impeach Bush and Cheney." Many of the tourist-activists were in town to hail the arrival of impeachment marcher John Nirenberg, the 61 year-old college professor who has just walked from Boston to D.C. to call attention to the need for the impeachment of Bush and Cheney.
In a telephone interview, one of the participants, Susan Serpa, age 56, told me she was looking at the displays when a female security guard approached her and said "You need to go speak to that man over there" indicating a burly security guard. When Serpa asked why, the woman said: "Your shirt." Serpa's shirt reads on the front: "Impeach Bush and Cheney, Change History." On the reverse it says: "MaineImpeach.org."
Other security guards then approached Serpa and told her: "You need to leave because of your shirt."...
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Fear of Edwards
Here's one reason I like Edwards: Corporate elite fear candidate Edwards | Reuters: "Open attacks on the business elite are seldom heard from mainstream White House candidates in America, despite skyrocketing CEO pay, rising income inequality, and a torrent of scandals in corporate boardrooms and on Wall Street.
But this year Edwards is not alone. Republican candidate Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas, sometimes also rails against corporate power and influence, tapping a populist current that lies just below the surface of U.S. politics..."
But this year Edwards is not alone. Republican candidate Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas, sometimes also rails against corporate power and influence, tapping a populist current that lies just below the surface of U.S. politics..."
Friday, January 11, 2008
BO Thinks He's Supreme Material
Think Progress » O’Reilly: ‘I should be’ on the Supreme Court.
"Last night, Fox News host Bill O’Reilly discussed Indiana’s restrictive voter ID law, which is currently being challenged in the Supreme Court. O’Reilly dismissed concerns that the regulations disenfranchise low-income and minority voters as “ridiculous.” His solution? That he be appointed to the Supreme Court:
If I’m on the Supreme Court, as I should be, I say what is the down side of having somebody prove who they are [when they come to vote]?..."
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Blackwater Gases Troops
2005 Use of Gas by Blackwater Leaves Questions - New York Times
"WASHINGTON — The helicopter was hovering over a Baghdad checkpoint into the Green Zone, one typically crowded with cars, Iraqi civilians and United States military personnel.
Suddenly, on that May day in 2005, the copter dropped CS gas, a riot-control substance the American military in Iraq can use only under the strictest conditions and with the approval of top military commanders. An armored vehicle on the ground also released the gas, temporarily blinding drivers, passers-by and at least 10 American soldiers operating the checkpoint..."Wednesday, January 09, 2008
On Trashing Sen. Clinton
Firedoglake - Firedoglake weblog » Media Analysis: The “Tweety Effect” Runs Rampant
"...What is wrong with Chris Matthews? With all of these media people? I mean that, in all honesty, what in the hell is wrong with them? Their personal loathing of Hillary Clinton shone through in every sniggering, overwrought report this week. Their building up of Barack Obama is only their prelude and set-up for the frenzied clawing and shredding of him that is to come. And they have well and truly written off coverage of either John Edwards or Bill Richardson solely based on their current fundraising numbers, and never mind that, as of yesterday, there had been two -- count them, only TWO -- Democratic contests.
"...What is wrong with Chris Matthews? With all of these media people? I mean that, in all honesty, what in the hell is wrong with them? Their personal loathing of Hillary Clinton shone through in every sniggering, overwrought report this week. Their building up of Barack Obama is only their prelude and set-up for the frenzied clawing and shredding of him that is to come. And they have well and truly written off coverage of either John Edwards or Bill Richardson solely based on their current fundraising numbers, and never mind that, as of yesterday, there had been two -- count them, only TWO -- Democratic contests.
None of it has anything to do with substance. It's as if a pack of hyenas were crossbred with the characters in Mean Girls and then sent out to play at journalism.
Maureen Dowd's column this morning reads like J.J. Hunsecker in drag, although it's not exactly a shock given that its Dowd we are talking about, is it? Rachel Maddow let Matthews have it last night (C&L has the clip.) as a proxy stand-in for all the media idiocy. And Pam Spaulding nails it, calling it "'The Tweety Effect,' where the misogyny of a talking head in the MSM so enrages a demographic that they go out and vote in a manner that will put egg on the face of the talking head..."
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Vertical=Kingly
Crooks and Liars » Huckabee wants to get ‘vertical’: "At Saturday night’s Republican debate, Mike Huckabee used a word he emphasizes quite a bit: “vertical.”
“I think we also ought to recognize that what Senator Obama has done is to touch at the core of something Americans want,” Huckabee said. “They are so tired of everything being horizontal — left, right, liberal, conservative, Democrat, Republican. They’re looking for vertical leadership that leads up, not down. He has excited a lot of voters in this country. Let’s pay respect for that. He’s a likable person who has excited people about wanting to vote who have not voted in the past...”"
Clicking on the link will lead you to a whole bunch of speculation concerning Huck's meaning when he talks about "vertical." Well, it is not that hard. Vertical politics means hierarchical politics; i.e., the Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, etc. Or, kings, dukes, counts; or dictator, chancellor, governor; or president, supreme court, congress, rich voters, sorta rich voters, then voters, each with decreasing control over his or her own life. In a Republican wet-dream vertical environment, only one man (yes, like a WASP-man), dominates each rung on the ladder, though inevitably, as you go further down on the ladder a few more people might sneak onto a power level. Horizontal politics, of course, is the opposite-- on the few vertical rungs, there are many more people or entities sharing power: the President, the Congress, and the Supreme Court. So, bottom line: horizontal politics is democracy; vertical politics is dictatorship.
Anyone surprised Huck is looking to be the next George Bush?
“I think we also ought to recognize that what Senator Obama has done is to touch at the core of something Americans want,” Huckabee said. “They are so tired of everything being horizontal — left, right, liberal, conservative, Democrat, Republican. They’re looking for vertical leadership that leads up, not down. He has excited a lot of voters in this country. Let’s pay respect for that. He’s a likable person who has excited people about wanting to vote who have not voted in the past...”"
Clicking on the link will lead you to a whole bunch of speculation concerning Huck's meaning when he talks about "vertical." Well, it is not that hard. Vertical politics means hierarchical politics; i.e., the Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, etc. Or, kings, dukes, counts; or dictator, chancellor, governor; or president, supreme court, congress, rich voters, sorta rich voters, then voters, each with decreasing control over his or her own life. In a Republican wet-dream vertical environment, only one man (yes, like a WASP-man), dominates each rung on the ladder, though inevitably, as you go further down on the ladder a few more people might sneak onto a power level. Horizontal politics, of course, is the opposite-- on the few vertical rungs, there are many more people or entities sharing power: the President, the Congress, and the Supreme Court. So, bottom line: horizontal politics is democracy; vertical politics is dictatorship.
Anyone surprised Huck is looking to be the next George Bush?
Bottom-Lining Hitch
Shakesville: "...This is the thing that annoys me the most about Hitchens: he's at this point almost nothing but a parrot of the right's talking points. Even his atheist polemics are, as often as not, in the service of some kind of lunatic imperialistic agenda. He gives talks and attends events sponsored by the likes of David Horowitz, and defends his old pal Ahmed Chalabi. He has no sense of social class, and almost no economics. Yet he still fancies himself a leftist, and even a Marxist. He clearly considers himself an important thinker. He's not. He's the crudest sort of right-wing hack, and he doesn't even realize it."
Monday, January 07, 2008
Kristol Cracks Column
Talking Points Memo | An Inauspicious Start: "Turns out Bill Kristol's first NYT column contains a factual error. He attributes a Michael Medved quote to Michelle Malkin. Hard to keep all those right-wing hacks straight."
Edwards Kicks
Karen Dalton-Beninato: NOLA Org Endorsement: John Edwards Will 'Kick Republicans In The Balls' - Off The Bus on The Huffington Post: "...We vote for John Edwards for all of these reasons, but especially because Democrats need a tough, combative lead candidate to whip the Republicans, who are vicious fighters in a presidential campaign--especially when they're desperate. Barack Obama is marvelous and would also be a good president, but we worry he doesn't have the aggressiveness to kick the Republican operatives in the balls, the way they always do to Democrats. In Nov. 2004 it was Edwards the courtroom attorney who wanted to challenge the Ohio vote counts before conceding, but John Kerry decided otherwise.
John Edwards has the optimism, the intelligence, and the gut-fire and bulldog tenacity to get the job done . . . He's also a realist. He knows the status quo won't give an inch without a struggle. About dealing with corporate interests such as the drug and oil and insurance companies, he says, 'Some people argue that we're going to sit at a table with these people and they're going to voluntarily give their power away. I think it is a complete fantasy; it will never happen.' We often say 'We Want Roosevelt Again.' We know we're not going to get Franklin Delano, but in John Edwards we see just about the closest thing to FDR we've seen in many years...'"
John Edwards has the optimism, the intelligence, and the gut-fire and bulldog tenacity to get the job done . . . He's also a realist. He knows the status quo won't give an inch without a struggle. About dealing with corporate interests such as the drug and oil and insurance companies, he says, 'Some people argue that we're going to sit at a table with these people and they're going to voluntarily give their power away. I think it is a complete fantasy; it will never happen.' We often say 'We Want Roosevelt Again.' We know we're not going to get Franklin Delano, but in John Edwards we see just about the closest thing to FDR we've seen in many years...'"
Sunday, January 06, 2008
McGovern Calls For Impeachment
Why I Believe Bush Must Go - washingtonpost.com: "As we enter the eighth year of the Bush-Cheney administration, I have belatedly and painfully concluded that the only honorable course for me is to urge the impeachment of the president and the vice president..."
BO Disses Vets
Crooks and Liars » O’Reilly Slams Edwards For Standing Up For Homeless Veterans: "On Friday, Billo showed off his pundit wisdom idiocy following the Iowa caucus and went after John Edwards for saying the US should be taking better care of our veterans..." [Click the link to go to C&L for video of BO's rant.]
"...Billo, who has a history of insulting veterans, just dismissed outright the plight of homeless men and women who have served in our nation’s military and implied that they don’t even exist. To mask his callous indifference he threw out illegal immigration as a red herring and insulted Edwards by saying he “has no clue.” Well, as usual, Falafel Boy is the one who desperately needs to get a clue.
"...Billo, who has a history of insulting veterans, just dismissed outright the plight of homeless men and women who have served in our nation’s military and implied that they don’t even exist. To mask his callous indifference he threw out illegal immigration as a red herring and insulted Edwards by saying he “has no clue.” Well, as usual, Falafel Boy is the one who desperately needs to get a clue.
In 2006, approximately 195,827 veterans were homeless on a given night—an increase of 0.8 percent from 194,254 in 2005. More veterans experience homeless over the course of the year. We estimate that 336,627 were homeless in 2006..."
Problem Progressive Bloggers
House of the Rising Sons: Bloggers Selling out: "Note to all my fellow Blog-Patriots, fighting the good fight and struggling to take our country back:
If Your Blog is sportin' Rush Limbaugh ads, then YOU are part of the [edit] problem.
If you are selling hate speech, unknowingly or not, as pop-ups or ads on your sidebar, then You are a two bit hypocrite.
I am tired of seeing ads pimping Ann Coulter's email on top of supposedly Progressive blogs. Is the money from these ads trickling into your credit card worth it If one more American becomes indoctrinated with her vile spew as a result of an ad on your blog?..."
If Your Blog is sportin' Rush Limbaugh ads, then YOU are part of the [edit] problem.
If you are selling hate speech, unknowingly or not, as pop-ups or ads on your sidebar, then You are a two bit hypocrite.
I am tired of seeing ads pimping Ann Coulter's email on top of supposedly Progressive blogs. Is the money from these ads trickling into your credit card worth it If one more American becomes indoctrinated with her vile spew as a result of an ad on your blog?..."
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Dem Winner?
Democrat Taylor Marsh Broadcasts Live Talk Radio and Blogs Politics: "Hillary Clinton Relaxed, Soars In Debate"
Not everyone agrees with that assessment.
Not everyone agrees with that assessment.
BO Roars
Secret Service Restrains Out-Of-Control O'Reilly - Politics on The Huffington Post
C&L has video of BO's call to FOX explaining the incident.
C&L has video of BO's call to FOX explaining the incident.
Friday, January 04, 2008
Teaching Evolution
The Associated Press: Importance of Teaching Evolution Noted
"WASHINGTON (AP) — Scientific advisers to the government emphasize in a report the importance of teaching evolution in public schools.
The report by the National Academy of Sciences and its Institute of Medicine follows up on similar past publications, the last of which came out in 1999. The new document includes recently discovered evidence supporting evolution, including an important fossil find.
The report released Thursday also takes swipes at creationism and other anti-evolution views.
"Despite the lack of scientific evidence for creationist positions, some advocates continue to demand that various forms of creationism be taught together with or in place of evolution in science classes," the report says..."
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Scientists Say "No" To Creationism
I caught a piece of a segment on ABC News that said that the National Science Foundation (I think that's who they said) had said that creationism should not be taught in public schools. Is Bush losing control of the science apparatus? I couldn't find any info on this on any of the "big blogs"; if I do, I'll update.
Update: National Academy of Science
Update: National Academy of Science
Troops On Short End Of Bonus Stick
Bonus payments frozen - Army News, opinions, editorials, news from Iraq, photos, reports - Army Times: "The Army has temporarily halted bonus payments for more than 20 enlistment, re-enlistment and service extension programs pending enactment of authorizing legislation.
President Bush, to the surprise of Congress and the Defense Department, vetoed the fiscal 2008 Defense Authorization Act on Dec. 29 after months bargaining with House and Senate leaders.
In announcing the pocket veto, White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said the president objected to a single provision of the legislation that would delay the reconstruction of Iraq, and expose the Iraqi government to unwarranted law suits in U.S. courts.
If enacted as currently written, the legislation would authorize $696.3 billion in defense spending during 2008, including $1 billion for Army accession and retention bonuses.
Until a new version of the legislation is enacted, all new bonus agreements signed on, or after, Jan. 1 must include an addendum that stipulates the soldier’s eligibility for a future bonus..."
President Bush, to the surprise of Congress and the Defense Department, vetoed the fiscal 2008 Defense Authorization Act on Dec. 29 after months bargaining with House and Senate leaders.
In announcing the pocket veto, White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said the president objected to a single provision of the legislation that would delay the reconstruction of Iraq, and expose the Iraqi government to unwarranted law suits in U.S. courts.
If enacted as currently written, the legislation would authorize $696.3 billion in defense spending during 2008, including $1 billion for Army accession and retention bonuses.
Until a new version of the legislation is enacted, all new bonus agreements signed on, or after, Jan. 1 must include an addendum that stipulates the soldier’s eligibility for a future bonus..."
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Edwards On Foreign Policy
Edwards continues to impress on foreign policy - AMERICAblog: A great nation deserves the truth
"Michael Gordon, the NYT reporter who wrote the fantastic "Cobra II", interviewed Edwards this weekend about Iraq and foreign policy more generally, and I just read the transcript. Gordon isn't trying to play "gotcha", and the questions -- and perhaps most importantly, the follow-up conversations -- are extremely good and highly instructive.
It's lengthy, and there's really no point in trying to summarize it. If you're interested in that stuff, it's very much worth checking out. Without getting into the details, I'll just say that anybody who thinks Edwards is a foreign policy lightweight is dead wrong."
"Michael Gordon, the NYT reporter who wrote the fantastic "Cobra II", interviewed Edwards this weekend about Iraq and foreign policy more generally, and I just read the transcript. Gordon isn't trying to play "gotcha", and the questions -- and perhaps most importantly, the follow-up conversations -- are extremely good and highly instructive.
It's lengthy, and there's really no point in trying to summarize it. If you're interested in that stuff, it's very much worth checking out. Without getting into the details, I'll just say that anybody who thinks Edwards is a foreign policy lightweight is dead wrong."
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Waning Clerical Power In Iran
Iran's inner and outer circles of influence and power - Los Angeles Times
"...For years, Western analysts have struggled to understand the inner workings of Iran's leadership. To many, it is a government tightly controlled by the Shiite Muslim clergy. But the power of the clerics has steadily eroded. Increasingly, power is distributed among combative elites within a delicate system of checks and balances defined by religious as well as civil law, personal relations and the rhythm of bureaucracy.
Iran analysts struggle to discern which officials have authority and how much. And when Iranian officials make public pronouncements, it often is unclear whether they are expressing established policy or fighting among themselves -- speaking for their own faction or just themselves..."
"...For years, Western analysts have struggled to understand the inner workings of Iran's leadership. To many, it is a government tightly controlled by the Shiite Muslim clergy. But the power of the clerics has steadily eroded. Increasingly, power is distributed among combative elites within a delicate system of checks and balances defined by religious as well as civil law, personal relations and the rhythm of bureaucracy.
Iran analysts struggle to discern which officials have authority and how much. And when Iranian officials make public pronouncements, it often is unclear whether they are expressing established policy or fighting among themselves -- speaking for their own faction or just themselves..."
Reverse Hookey
The Raw Story | California school 'shoots' Mexican students: "...With too many students and too few classrooms, Calexico school officials took the unusual step of hiring someone to photograph children and document the offenders. Santillan snaps pictures at the city's downtown border crossing and shares the images with school principals, who use them as evidence to kick out those living in Mexico.
Since he started the job two years ago, the number of students in the Calexico school system has fallen 5 percent, from 9,600 to 9,100, while the city's population grew about 3 percent..."
Since he started the job two years ago, the number of students in the Calexico school system has fallen 5 percent, from 9,600 to 9,100, while the city's population grew about 3 percent..."
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