Open Thread
Talk amongst yourselves...
Comments (177) «
Lot's going on in political land, but all my thoughts are with Elizabeth Edwards. So many women (and men) and their families face this disease every day. I'm so proud of the way this couple has faced their struggle and focused on a hopeful, positive message for themselves, their family and us.
Posted by PeterCucumber on March 22, 2007 at 02:10 PM
I'm really getting sick of you calling Obama a Negro. He's an American of mixed heritage. Is this your way of trying to put him in his place?
And how do you know that Obama or any progressive candidate couldn't carry any district in this country? The times are changing. Perhaps it's you who is being left behind? Don't think that the rest of us are stuck standing still in a world you like to imagine is finite.
Arnold told Rush this past week that he has become irrelevant. If you continue to spout this sort of superior attitude towards others, so may you become irrelevant.
You have your right to express opinions but not to look down your nose at any other human being just because they don't look, speak, act, or feel the same way that you do. It's time you realized that you are just as different as the people you profess to be so strange.
I hope you can find it within yourself to grow and mature with some grace. I worry about you.
A Democratic Toolbox?
After a period of relative calm I've found myself discussing politics online more lately because of the DOJ scandal.
It's frustrating, because Republican trolls pop up so rapidly (and usually anonymously) to spew the current GOP talking points/lies. In this case, they usually go with "Clinton fired all the USAs and nobody cared" and "no crime was committed".
When confronted with evidence in the form of links to authoritative sources, they never respond; they just disappear and pop up elsewhere almost immediately, usually with a straight copy-&-paste of the same lies.
It's frustrating. Which is, of course, why they do it: by keeping Democrats playing whack-a-mole and encouraging our tendency to form circular firing squads, they ensure that we can't organize effectively online.
I'll never understand the Democratic propensity for giving unfettered access to our forums to people who've made it abundantly clear that they are NOT interested in debate and don't have the slightest compunction about lying shamelessly, even after they've been exposed.
Anyway, I found that particularly exasperating recently because it had taken me a little while to come up with some good links to prove my point. Suddenly it struck me that it would be a good idea to have a centralized reference source for Democrats to use online - a sort of online political Democratic Toolbox, complete with links to evidence refuting Republican talking points as soon as they appear.
It would be private, of course - members only. No trolls wanted! Strong moderation would be needed to ban those trolls that would inevitably get in. As for content, there would need to be some sort of "trusted user" system in place - perhaps something like a wiki would be best, with established administrators voting to give new users administrative privileges.
Just a pipe dream, perhaps. Still, it's a tempting idea, don't you think?
Sandy, Luckily the trolls are in the very small minority now, 30% of the country that approve of this President and illegal occupation and killing of our troops for lies! They just don't acknowledge it! Hate filled, Sour grape, sore losers!
NEW YORK A new Gallup survey confirms that Americans claim they will be willing to vote for a woman (read: Hillary Clinton) or a black (read: Barack Obama) for president next year. But they still raise questions about voting for a well-qualified Mormon (Mitt Romney) or 72-year-old (John McCain) or someone who has been divorced twice (Rudy Giuliani).
Surprisingly, nearly as many say they would vote for a homosexual (55%) as say they would vote for a 72-year-old (57%).
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003547514
McCain has definitely been showing his age lately as he blathers on, changing policies one day and forgetting them the next. I am skeptical of a poll that makes American's seem so broadminded and open to change, when their voting patterns on cultural and human issues demonstrates otherwise.
Posted by BlueinIdaho on March 22, 2007 at 03:19 PM
Hi Blue,
McCain looks like a doddering old fool these days, and he will get NO where as a GOP candidate.
I have hope since last November election, that the American people would prefer ANYONE (woman, black, homosexual) to this Facist, Neo Con administration. I believe if nothing else, Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and the rest of the rubber stamping Republicans have sealed the Democratic Party Victory for many years to come!
and one more before I have to skip out:
For the last of the fools, who think the troops want to be supported by keeping their Brothers over there, looks like they are wrong as usual:
Veterans Speak Out in Historic March to the Pentagon
Hey Pam...at least we're better than a fascist! Just pickin'.
I'll be honest with you guys (not that I'm not usually but...). I know lots of people are all gungho about the possibility of a first for the presidency (i.e. first woman, first black, etc.); however, I just don't feel it with Barack or Hillary.
Put my distaste for their anti-gay politics aside, both just seem kind of swarmy and underhanded. The new faces of the slick and polished professional politician.
After what happened today with Edwards announcement, in spite of what I may think of his political views, I'm impressed with the Edwards' class and dignity. It almost makes me think that there is a human heart under the pretty boy face, unlike Barack and Hillary. Edwards may actually be able to change, to do good for all of us, to feel some empathy because of his own trials. I just don't think Barack and Hillary are capable of being real.
The Idaho fundies think that Flipper Romney is a "darn libral"...
Dear Mr. Sullivan,
I read with surprise that Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts is scheduled to be a featured speaker at this year’s Republican state convention.
Research the Idaho Values Alliance has done reveals that Mr. Romney holds views which are wildly out of alignment with the party’s own platform and with public policies that are best for Idaho’s families. We think Idaho citizens need to have this information.
Blue, How can Idaho JUDGE what Romney stands for? He has flipped and flopped so many times since Massachusetts office!
PSH, see my message earlier today, and that was not because of pity for the Edwards, but it said if the Primary election was today, I would pull a handle for Edwards. There is just something less political about him, than some of the rest have. Obama is cool, but settled too easily into a politician. Hillary---well, there is absolutely No way the Republicans will let Bill Clinton waltz back into the white House, not if they have to blow the place up.
My own state senator, Chris Dodd is not a bad choice, unfortunetly he is not known.
I would be in a quandry with myself though, should Al Gore decide to run. He did win once , I just hope he got off his DLC platform of corporate loving.
Posted by PamB on March 22, 2007 at 04:44 PM
The letter was written sometime last year before Mitt learned to be so...er...acrobatic. But, as evidenced by the failing memories of this current administration, maybe the Kristians and GOP won't remember why they hated Mitt so vehemently last year.
bbl.
Blue, should they forget how much they hated Romney, trust that I shall keep reminding them, via letters to editors, TV reporters, politicians, etc.
And the following explains why the NAACP, black groups and leaders, Obama, etc, are Democrats:
(There WERE some Dixicrat racist Dems back in the 60's who switched parties to where they felt right at home, i.e. the Republican Party)
"For the Democratic Party has for decades defended black middle-class aspirations in the form of support for Civil Rights and other anti-racist measures. And, it is also through the Democratic Party that members of the Black middle class have been able to rise to positions of political power as elected officials. This historical relationship between the Black middle-class and the Democratic Party was established in the New Deal progressive politics of Roosevelt in the 1940s and cemented during the Johnson administration of the 1960s. "
Posted by Peter on March 22, 2007 at 02:58 PM
Peter,
It would be much easier to dicuss the issues if we could do it the way you suggest. But it was long ago decided by someone that this is a public forum open to everyone.
Many have felt the same way as you and eventually left to blog elsewhere. I expect many more will never bother to post.
Please continue to share your thoughts. I enjoy the intellectual exchange of ideas from those such as yourself. Post any links that you think are important for us to review.
Posted by PamB on March 22, 2007 at 03:27 PM
Pam,
You can tell by just talking to people you meet in everyday situations that most have moved past the old bigotries and want to just make this country work right again. It doesn't matter who it is as long as they have the brains and the capability to do it.
Posted by ProudSelfishHedonist on March 22, 2007 at 03:49 PM
Proud,
Everyone is saying that Elizabeth is his better half. I've always thought they both were strong individuals who have a good sense of who they are.
I still remember during Kerry's swan dive capitulation after the election how Edwards was so visibly angry that they were quiting and not challenging the Ohio voter fraud.
It's not that he has a heart and can feel empathy (although after six years of robots bashing any common decency in this country to the ground) it's his determination and pragmatism that wins me over. He really believes that we can take the country back from the brink and make it better.
But we need to see where all the other candidates are coming from. Today was just an indication of the many shocks and turns of events that will befall all their campaigns before the primaries. It's too easy to make hasty accessments. I'm not making as decisions yet.
What I really worry about is that the strategists are blocking out any humanity from the front runners and selling them as packaged goods. Edwards has worked against this trend and demands to talk about specifics in his agenda.
I wish all our candidates will finally come to that approach. I'm hopeful that they can and will.
Watch a highlight from yesterday's hearing.
http://blog.algore.com/2007/03/todays_highlights.html
http://blog.algore.com/2007/03/als_testimony_before_the_house.html
Watch Al Gore's entire opening statement.
Thank you!
By 10:00 AM yesterday, as I took my seat in the hearing room, an incredible 519,414 people had signed our message to Congress demanding immediate action to solve the climate crisis.
All of those boxes chock full of your messages, sitting right next to me as I testified, were a fantastic show of support and one that is already having an impact as our Representatives and Senators begin to debate solutions to the climate crisis. In fact, so many people signed our message in the 24 hours before the hearing, we are still working on printing them. But don't worry, Congress now knows that you have spoken, and I will personally make sure every last message is delivered.
I also wanted to make sure that you had the chance to see the hearing for yourself, so I've posted video highlights on AlGore.com:
After witnessing your incredible show of activism and enthusiasm, I wanted to give something back to you. As many of you know, Live Earth will take place on July 7. The 24-hour concert marks the beginning of a multi-year campaign to raise awareness about our climate crisis. It will feature more than 100 acts, including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snoop Dogg, Foo Fighters and Faith Hill.
Tickets are going to sell out fast, and I wanted to make sure that you have the chance to see the show. That's why we will set aside a special block of tickets and let AlGore.com members purchase the first ones sold. I will let you know more details before these tickets go on sale.
If you would like to learn more about the Live Earth concerts you can visit:
In a few short weeks we have grown into a movement of more than 500,000 strong. To ultimately win, we are going to need to grow bigger - but for now we are off to a great start.
Thank you again for what you made possible today,
I would be in a quandry with myself though, should Al Gore decide to run. He did win once , I just hope he got off his DLC platform of corporate loving.
Posted by PamB on March 22, 2007 at 04:44 PM
Pam,
That's my question, too. Where does he stand on multinationalism. Did he ever embrace it whole heartedly and what does he think now?
Posted by rjsnj on March 22, 2007 at 06:24 PM
rjsnj,
Gore came across so presidential and above the fray yesterday. I makes you angry to think about what we ended up with instead.
I'm not going to settle for it anymore, and I don't think the American public will either. We deserve better than the mess we are living with now.
Iraq, insurgent negotiations deadlocked
By HAMZA HENDAWI, Associated Press Writer
BAGHDAD - Iraq's government has engaged in secret negotiations seeking to get some Sunni Arab insurgent groups to give up their fight, but the talks are deadlocked over the lack of a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops, a senior official said Thursday.
Saad Yousif al-Muttalibi of the Ministry of National Dialogue and Reconciliation said talks have been taking place inside and outside Iraq over the past three months and involved five or six insurgent groups.
He did not identify the groups, saying only that they excluded al-Qaida in Iraq and
Saddam Hussein loyalists. But he said senior members of Saddam's outlawed Baath party took part. He added further talks were planned but would give no details.
Speaking to The Associated Press, al-Muttalibi described the talks as "very delicate" and said they were being conducted through intermediaries. He said negotiations were initiated at the request of the insurgents, who insisted on being kept anonymous as a condition for talking.
Al-Muttalibi said the two sides also have differences over issues such as federalism and Iraq's identity as outlined in the constitution adopted in a nationwide referendum in 2005...
//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070322/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_insurgent_talks
Bold mine.
It would seem that all that is holding up an end to the Iraqi war is a timetable for an American withdrawal. So, of course, the Republicans will fight out leadership to the last American soldier dies in Iraq, not to set one.
It's becoming more and more obvious that the GOP wants the killing and dying to continue forever. They are very sick people....as well as being incompetent and corrupt.
Analysis: Split over Palestinian policy
By ANNE GEARAN
WASHINGTON - The United States is in the middle of an emerging division among allies in
Israel and Europe over how to deal with a Palestinian coalition government that includes Hamas militants alongside Western-backed moderates.
The differences are subtle so far, with Israel taking the toughest line against the power-sharing deal and Europe the most lenient. That leaves the Bush administration working to preserve its foothold in Mideast peace efforts and hard-fought harmony with European nations.
There were no public splits as Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice saw a stream of European diplomats this week. But diplomats and analysts say it will be hard to maintain a unified front for long...
//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070322/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_mideast
Rice ordered the the allies to come to her and pay their tribute, but they aren't buying into this sinking ship.
"I have never heard the Senate take an ultimatum like that," Leahy said. "I know he's the decider for the White House. "But he's not the decider for the United States Senate.
The times they are a changing. The Decider is now facing some adults who will tell him "no."
It's becoming more and more obvious that the GOP wants the killing and dying to continue forever. They are very sick people....as well as being incompetent and corrupt.
Posted by SandyH on March 22, 2007 at 06:52 PM
Sandy,
Our last state Rep, Chris Shays was on hardball yesterday, and Matthews asked him, well if you are not for the pull out by the Democrats, WHEN do you think you will say enough and say they should come home, and Shays said 'when they win"!
WTF??? There is no winning there. this is not our fight- it is a fight to see if the Sunnis or the Shias win control. There is No victory, no mission, no win ! If Bush and the Republicans were smart (which they are not), they would craft a message that the US has won, Hussein is gone, the Iraqis now have their own government, and get the hell out of there before the next election, but luckily they are too stupid to do so).
Posted by PamB on March 22, 2007 at 07:03 PM
Pam,
Did you see that clip of the press conference in the Green Zone today where the UN was speaking about it being safe enough now to return...and then a bomb practically landed on the them?
Al Sadr is alive and well and just wanted to remind the Bushies that he control Baghdad...and he always will.
If Shays wants to win, he better get his ass in gear and go over there and attack...I'm not sure who he would attack at this point...himself? This thing is a done deal. The insurgents, the militias, and probably the Iraqi government, have all decided they want us to go. I think they are working together with that one goal in mind.
Why can't the Republicans let our people go? Are those Iraqi oil fields and no-bid war profiteering contracts the only collateral they have to get more loans from the Communist Chinese?
Sandy, Yes I read that about the UN chief this morning. This was right after maliki saying that Baghdad was getting stable!
Rocket Hits Baghdad as PM Tells Media Iraq "Nearing Stability"
Republican incompentence is what is killing our Troops! And these stooges like to try and say they are stronger on Defense than Democrats! Idiots!
WASHINGTON - Explosives looted from Iraq munitions sites probably will continue to support terrorist attacks throughout the region, a congressional report said Thursday. It said some sites were still not secure more than 3 1/2 years after the war started.
Failure to guard the sites "has been costly," the Government Accountability Office report said, noting looted munitions are being used to make roadside bombs, the No. 1 killer of U.S. soldiers in Iraq.
Quoting from previous Defense Department reports, the study says widespread looting occurred after the fall of Baghdad in early 2003 because war planners did not put enough troops into the country to secure weapons depots and because officials incorrectly assumed Iraqi soldiers would surrender and help with security.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070322/ap_on_go_ot/us_iraq_explosives
The Many Man-Crushes of Chris Matthews
Like Elvis, Matthews can't help falling in love. And also like the King--who developed a thing for both Richard Nixon and J. Edgar Hoover late in life--the object of Matthews's affection is invariably a tough-talking, self-styled Republican macho-man. And when he gets going on one of these guys, his style of punditry owes more to, say, Tiger Beat or Teen People than the Trilateral Commission.
eric alterman, at his finest! a gracious good evening, truthseekers
John Boy, nice to see you. Howdy to you and the boss...and a little squeeze to the "urpy" one...hope he's feeling better.
Man Crush link
rude one comments on tony snow's little altercation with harry today...caution, comments are rude. they do, however, reflect the level of discourse that comes to mind when i think of what i would say to...
sandy, sally is a closet racist. it likes to dance around racist behavior and then see if it can suck anyone into mindless arguments that basically go " prove that what i wrote is racist...." blah, blah...sally is also a creationist and homophobic but it's favorite game is race baiting and trying to cause discomfort. my guess is sally is not all that comfortable itself with it's own life or it would have better things to do than hang around people who detest it.
Back Again, Y'All. Michigan was cool, (literally and figuratively) and when I got back I had to do the ol' Cardio Dude today, (no probs, YAY), so while I was waiting for the Nuke Dude to sit back and let that goo do the magic that it do, I had the opportunity to catch up on some of my old newspapers (which the neighbor's sister didn't get a chance to steal before Crazy Pie Lady rescued them from her clutches).
Anyhoo, This is from the Sunday QT column in the Chicago Sun-Times:
Right on
Is the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy Becoming Half-Vast? (cont'd):
• • The conservative Web site Free Republic at www.freerepublic.com notes, with data and graphs, that "there has been a steady downtrend" in traffic at conservative Web sites in the last year "that would crash any market."
• • Rush Limbaugh at www.rushlim baugh.com has announced that his show is available online to listeners in North Dakota now that "Rush has said farewell to our former Fargo affiliate," which is another way of saying it dropped him.
~~~~~~~~~~
(bold, mine)
QT, 3-18-07
hi gregg,
self-loathing, sociopathic and sexually disturbed...
if i win the Ben and Jerry's for a year contest for picking the correct Abu resignation day, i'll share it with you
sometimes, i like it when you call the sick bastard out. not usually, but sometimes.
tonight, i'm just a little sad about Elizabeth...yet very proud of how courageous they are and how positive
i'm also kinda wondering if i ever was positive, since it seems to be a character trait that i lack completely.
well, just one more thing i can blame on bush
Durbin was on Air America tonight. he is so heroic. my beloved senator, so soft spoken and intelligent, honest...talking about publicly financed elections
he's absolutely correct! my new crusade...though it isn't new. t.v. is the profiteer...and i hate t.v. almost as much as i do the guacamoron
hello paddy, nice to have you back. that pinprick was ridiculing edwards today for "hedging" his campaign...etc.
well, i'm going to listen to malloy. you guys have a good night..
Posted by gregg on March 22, 2007 at 09:07 PM
That exact same post (with different misspellings) was erased when he posted it at 5:11. It only took 5 minutes before it was zapped. He's recycling his own "great thoughts" for a wider audience.
Ignore IT.
Night, everyone.
Posted by fade2bluz on March 22, 2007 at 08:57 PM
fade,
Harry Smith sounds like he wants some answers instead of excuses. If that's partisan then maybe he is. And it's about time, too.
Why isn't he the anchor for the Nightly News instead of that lightweight from the Today Show? Perhaps they should switch places and she could get back to wearing Halloween costumes and critiquing the spring fashion buzz?
Blessed are the dim-witted. They will be tricked out of their money by some Republican crook and have to depend on the charity of Democrats to take care of them in their old age.
Hey, DPD.
Hope you had a good trip. Spring is busting out all over here in Missouri. Has winter lost it's grip up your way?
So the folks in Fargo think Arnold was right. Rush must be irrelevant.
Sandy, are you talking about THIS?
Tony Snow gets into it With Harry Smith at CBS over the Atty scandal
Live by the LIE, Die by the LIE, you would think that the Pubies would have figured that out by now, seeing as ALL they ever do is LIE.
From kos:
by kos
Thu Mar 22, 2007 at 06:00:50 PM PDT
With all the hand-wringing over the details of the Iraq supplemental, one of the arguments many are making is that the bill "doesn't go far enough" and that it'll make the Democrats look "weak" for caving the to Blue Dogs and "watering it down".
I'm actually quite proud of the progressive caucus -- it's time House progressives start flexing their muscles a little. And the concessions they've won are important ones. Is the supplemental perfect? Nope. But ultimately, it matters little. Bush will veto it, just like he'd veto a "tougher" bill. The would-be-emperor from the unaccountable administration has no interest in agreeing to even the most mildest of oversight requests.
At the end of the day, this is a message battle. It's a chance for Democrats to show that they are interested in ending the war and getting our troops safely home, while the other side wants to escalate the war and get our troops killed.
To that end, look at the headlines the Supplemental is generating:
US Democrats press deadline for Iraq pullout
Iraq pullout measures moves with war bill
US House opens debate on US withdrawal from Iraq
House Democrats seek votes for Iraq exit timetable
Dems labor for sure majority on pullout
Iraq pullout measure moves ahead
After 3 decades, Congress again tries to end a war
Dems seek votes to order pullout from Iraq
You get the point. Few care about the details. The message being sent is that Democrats want out, Republicans want more Americans to die in Iraq.
That is the clear distinction we need heading into 2008. Voters will then decide which they prefer -- pullout or escalation. And when we win that battle and hold the White House and Congress, this war is history.
So the particular of the bills matter little. Whatever we pass, no matter how weak or strong, will be vetoed and we won't have the votes for an override. The war will go on until we get some sane people in charge of the joint.
So we use this as part of the message war.
If we can't end the war right now (and we can't, thanks to King George), then we lay the foundation that will ultimately accomplish that goal.
*****
I thought about this issue alot. On one hand, I would love to say "not one more dime" but I know that will be misinterpreted as abandoning the troops. Bush is a big enough SOB that he would even leave the troops out there with limited supplies. So, conditions on the money is the best approach though I wish the bill was more stringent.
We all know that Bush will veto this and it may not pass the Senate. We have to stay tough and say that they must take it or leave it. Otherwise, it's the GOOPERS that are abandoning the troops.
KOS is right that we sent the right signal to the country. The GOOPERS are now against the wall being forced to say they want the iraq occupation to continue indefinitely.
DPD,
Yes. And this, too:
Bolton defends Israel's war on Hezbollah
By BARRY SCHWEID, AP Diplomatic Writer
Thu Mar 22
WASHINGTON - Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton on Thursday defended Israel's war with Hezbollah militia in Lebanon last summer as legitimate and one that had the support of several Arab countries as well as the United States.
"We did not try and shape Israel's strategic objective, but we would not have opposed Israel's decision to eliminate Hezbollah," Bolton told The Associated Press.
"We thought Israel was exercising its legitimate right of self-determination," he said. "We did not have a full idea what Israel's objectives might be and how it might play out."
The 34-day war ended in August 2006 by a U.N. cease-fire resolution. The fighting was touched off by Hezbollah's slaying of three Israeli soldiers and capture of two others, who are still held...
//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070322/ap_on_go_ot/bolton_mideast
Sandy, Yes I read that about the UN chief this morning. This was right after maliki saying that Baghdad was getting stable!
****
We seen this all before. The insurgency is laying low. They are figuring vulnerable places. As long as we are in iraq, the attacks will never stop. Only stupid GOOPERS think there is some sort of ultimate victory.
Novak's Rude Awakening
by L C Johnson
Thu Mar 22, 2007 at 01:26:49 PM PDT
by
Larry C Johnson (blog/bio)
Boy, is that the best he can do? I refer of course to Bob "the Colostomy Bag" Novak's column today in which he demonstrates that he still does not understand the basics of CIA cover. I am working out of town this week on a terrorism exercise (I get the night shift) and am not able to post as I would like. But Novak's column demands a quick response.
First and most important, he does not dispute that CIA Director Michael Hayden authorized a statement read by Henry Waxman at last Friday's hearing that states very clearly: Valerie Plame Wilson worked in an undercover position since February 2002 until she was outed in Novak's column. Her status was covert and was considered to be classified information. And, as defined in the Intelligence Identities Protection Act, she carried out classified missions overseas during the period 2002-2003.
All Novak can do is whine about the fact that General Hayden would not give this same information to Republican Peter Hoekstra. Why would that be?
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/3/22/162341/291
****
Read the rest as Larry Johnson lays into that right wing SOB Novak.
What Bush is hiding
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2007-03-22 23:54. Evidence
In the U.S. attorney scandal, Alberto Gonzales gave orders, but he also took them -- from Karl Rove, who plotted to turn the federal criminal justice system into the Republican Holy Office of the Inquisition.
By Sidney Blumenthal, Salon
Leave aside the unintentional irony of President Bush asserting executive privilege to shield his aides from testifying before the Congress in the summary firings of eight U.S. attorneys because the precedent would prevent him from receiving "good advice." Leave aside also his denunciation of the Congress for the impertinence of requesting such testimony as "partisan" and "demanding show trials," despite calls from Republicans for the dismissal of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Ignore as well Bush's adamant defense of Gonzales.
The man Bush has nicknamed "Fredo," the weak and betraying brother of the Corleone family, is, unlike Fredo, a blind loyalist, and will not be dispatched with a shot to the back of the head in a rowboat on the lake while reciting his Ave Maria. (Is Bush aware that Colin Powell refers to him as "Sonny," after the hothead oldest son?) But saving "Fredo" doesn't explain why Bush is willing to risk a constitutional crisis. Why is Bush going to the mattresses against the Congress? What doesn't he want known?
In the U.S. attorneys scandal, Gonzales was an active though second-level perpetrator. While he gave orders, he also took orders. Just as his chief of staff, Kyle Sampson, has resigned as a fall guy, so Gonzales would be yet another fall guy if he were to resign. He was assigned responsibility for the purge of U.S. attorneys but did not conceive it. The plot to transform the U.S. attorneys and ipso facto the federal criminal justice system into the Republican Holy Office of the Inquisition had its origin in Karl Rove's fertile mind.
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/20369
****
Bush is well on his way to impeachment.
Tell Karl Rove: Testify Under Oath
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2007-03-22 20:45. Activism
From Working Assets
The Bush Administration is still struggling to explain why eight U.S. Attorneys were abruptly dismissed last December. Recently released documents, however, show that heavy partisan pressure was being applied to replace these independent prosecutors -- including at least one who was pursuing a Republican congressman on high-level corruption charges -- with "Bushies" loyal to the administration.
Those documents also show a very high level of White House involvement in the decision to fire these attorneys -- most notably by Karl Rove and Harriet Miers. Indeed, the candidate who has now replaced a U.S. Attorney fired in Arkansas was a aide to, and protege of, Mr. Rove -- with relatively little prosecutorial experience, but lots of experience suppressing minority voters in the 2004 election.
Click here to tell Karl Rove: Tell the truth about your role in the purging of U.S. Attorneys.
http://www.workingforchange.com/activism/petition.cfm?itemid=22150&ms=n92lk1
Senate Joins House in Authorizing Subpoenas of Rove, Miers, et alia
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2007-03-22 20:28. Congress
By Tony Czuczka
Washington - A US Senate panel Thursday authorized subpoenas of White House officials over the disputed dismissal of federal prosecutors, escalating a confrontation between the Democratic-led Congress and President George W Bush.
With Republicans arguing against the move, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted largely along party lines to allow its chairman to issue the subpoenas against five former and current administration officials, including Bush's top political strategist, Karl Rove.
The judiciary committee in the lower House of Representatives authorized subpoenas of the same officials Wednesday. Neither panel has actually issued the subpoenas, which compel witnesses to testify under the threat of penalty.
At issue is the Bush administration's removal last year of eight federal prosecutors, which Democrats and some of the prosecutors allege were politically motivated.
Spring is busting out all over here in Missouri. Has winter lost it's grip up your way?
****
Looks like winter is coming to an end in NJ. Sixties by the weekend.
Sandy, MASSIVE storm on the way home yesterday, they ordered all Semi-Trailers off the Toll Roads, and even the State Police stopped patrolling and just sat along side the roads so they could more speedily respond to their 20 mile "area". There was massive flooding of viaducts and roads in some Counties, and today it got up to 61, but the high tomorrow will be somewhere in the mid 40's and it'll be thunderstorms for the next 5 or 6 days.
It was a SCARRRRREY drive with about a quarter mile visibility at the whopping speed of 35 most of the way.
Hey, Spring flowers, and all that. (After the tornadoes flatten everything in their path.)
Click on "Drivers Rescued from Flood Water"
Pelosi seems on brink of big Iraq win
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2007-03-22 18:53. Congress
Five members to watch in the House vote
By Tom Curry, MSNBC
WASHINGTON - If Speaker Nancy Pelosi wins in the vote in the House Thursday or Friday on $124 billion in funds for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, her victory will be largely due to two groups of Democrats:
Anti-Iraq war House members who voted last year against additional money for the war, but who’ve switched their votes, partly because the spending bill prescribes an August 2008 deadline for withdrawal of some, and perhaps most, U.S. troops from Iraq.
Dems: GOP Phone Jamming Case Stalled, Mishandled
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2007-03-22 18:48. Elections | Evidence
By Paul Kiel, TPMmuckraker
We reported earlier that people were asking questions about the Justice Department's handling of the Jack Abramoff investigation. Now New Hampshire Democrats are raising questions about another DoJ investigation into Republican wrongdoing -- the New Hampshire phone jamming case.
In a detailed, 10-page letter to Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) signed by Kathleen Sullivan, chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, and Paul Twomey, a lawyer for the Democrats, they argue that the investigation, which targeted prominent operatives in the Republican Party, was stalled and mishandled.
On Election Day in 2002, Republicans schemed to jam the phone banks for Democratic get out the vote efforts. Two Republicans involved in the plan pled guilty, and James Tobin, formerly the New England Regional Political Director for the Republican National Committee, was convicted for his role. The case took years to play out; the first guilty pleas in the case were not until the summer of 2004, and Tobin was not indicted until after the 2004 election.
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/20358
****
The GOOPERS sure are drawing this one out.
rjsnj,
I think the message is coming across loud and clear. The Republicans are stonewalling and impeding what the voters want set into motion. The closer we get to this election, the more frustrated the nation will grow.
The video of the new UN chief ducking under a podium said it all today. The situation is not going to get better in Iraq while the insurgents are compelled to fight the foreigners who occupy their country. As much as the civilans want life to get better they dare not cooperate with our military. We don't belong there.
Seventy percent of Americans agree with the Iraqis.
Dems, It's Time to Go Fox Huntin'
By Paul Begala
The Politico
Wednesday 21 March 2007
As a loyal Democrat and paid commentator on CNN, I am hopelessly biased - but at least I admit it. The folks at Fox News, on the other hand, are just as hopelessly biased - and they deny it. While I openly admit that I love all things Clinton, think House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is strong and brave, see Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid as Harry Truman reincarnated and don't believe George W. Bush would know the truth if it bit him on the ass, Fox insults our intelligence by feigning fairness.
That's why the Nevada Democrats did the right thing in refusing to allow Fox to pretend it is a neutral host for a Democratic debate. The more Fox is seen as "fair and balanced," the easier it is for the network to swift-boat Democratic candidates and propel misinformation into the mainstream media. Thank God Democrats are finally growing a spine and fighting back. No longer can Fox function as a Republican mouthpiece and expect us to put it on stage as a neutral news source. Like I tell my kids: NHD - not happenin', dude.
I think the message is coming across loud and clear. The Republicans are stonewalling and impeding what the voters want set into motion. The closer we get to this election, the more frustrated the nation will grow.
****
sandy, I think so. Even though it's emotionally satisfying to say "not one more dime" it's hard to imagine that ever happening with Bush as the presidunce. I would rather box him into a set of restrictions.
Even in Vietnam, the war didn't end because the funding dropped to zero. It ended because of populace disgust which both parties had to ultimately address.
I didn't see the video of the new UN chief. But no doubt the insurgency will continue as long as we are there.
US News Media's "War on Gore"
By Robert Parry
Consortium News
Thursday 22 March 2007
When historians sort out what happened to the United States at the start of the 21st Century, one of the mysteries may be why the national press corps ganged up like school-yard bullies against a well-qualified Democratic presidential candidate while giving his dimwitted Republican opponent virtually a free pass..
How could major news organizations, like The New York Times and The Washington Post, have behaved so irresponsibly as to spread falsehoods and exaggerations to tear down then-Vice President Al Gore - ironically while the newspapers were berating him for supposedly lying and exaggerating?
In a modern information age, these historians might ask, how could an apocryphal quote like Gore claiming to have "invented the Internet" been allowed to define a leading political figure much as the made-up quote "let them eat cake" was exploited by French propagandists to undermine Marie Antoinette two centuries earlier?
Why did the U.S. news media continue ridiculing Gore in 2002 when he was one of the most prominent Americans to warn that George W. Bush's radical policy of preemptive war was leading the nation into a disaster in Iraq?
Arguably, those violations of journalistic principles at leading U.S. news organizations, in applying double standards to Gore and Bush, altered the course of American history and set the nation on a very dangerous course.
Now, Gore has reemerged in Washington appealing to his former colleagues in the House and Senate to act urgently on the threat from global warming.
Iraq Diaspora Is "Humanitarian Crisis"
By Andrea Mitchell
NBC News
Wednesday 21 March 2007
Millions have fled the country, others only their region - help is hard to find.
Washington - A new investigation obtained by NBC News says there is another humanitarian crisis in Iraq-displaced people inside the country-and gives the United States and United Nations failing grades for helping them with their most basic needs.
Ali Ghazi and his family got out of their old Baghdad neighborhood just in time. Shiites, they were warned by a Sunni friend that Sunni militants planned to murder them by morning. They grabbed everything they could carry and ran.
"The future is dark, not only for my children, it is for the next generation if the situation stays the same," Ghazi says.
Now they are among 1.9 million Iraqis displaced in their own land-in effect, by ethnic cleansing.
"Iraqis are left without resources for health care, without resources for education and this is a disaster," says Kristelle Younes, an investigator with Refugees International.
Veterans Speak Out in Historic March to the Pentagon
By Geoffrey Millard
t r u t h o u t | Video
Thursday 22 March 2007
Democrats Set Iraq Deadline in War Bill
By Anne Flaherty
The Associated Press
Wednesday 21 March 2007
Senate Democrats on Wednesday revived legislation urging President Bush to bring combat troops home from Iraq in a year, attaching the plan to a $122 billion measure needed to fund the war.
The move puts Democrats on track for another confrontation with Bush over the increasingly unpopular war and with Republicans, who are expected to try to block the measure.
House Democratic leaders are pushing a similar measure that would require that troops leave by the fall of 2008. Party officials predicted the House would pass it on Friday, albeit by a razor-thin margin.
"United States troops should not be policing a civil war, and the current conflict in Iraq requires principally a political solution," says a draft Senate bill circulated to lawmakers in anticipation of a committee vote Thursday.
The measure would provide nearly $97 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and billions more in domestic aid and emergency relief programs. It would require that Bush begin bringing home some troops within four months of the bill's passage, setting a nonbinding goal of having all U.S. combat troops out of Iraq by March 31, 2008.
Cheney and Libby: Lying About Lying
By Marcy Wheeler
In These Times
This copy of Joseph Wilson's New York Times op-ed, marked by Vice President Dick Cheney, was introduced into evidence at the Libby trial.
Wednesday 21 March 2007
Here is the real news from the I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby trial: Evidence released during the case indicates that not only did Libby lie to the grand jury (the crime for which he was convicted) but that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) - specifically Vice President Dick Cheney, Libby and Cathie Martin, Cheney's press secretary - tried to cover-up the Bush administration's original lies to Congress and the American people about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction with more lies.
This second round of lies began after Joseph Wilson published a July 6, 2003 op-ed in the New York Times, in which he said that his 2002 fact-finding mission found no evidence that Saddam Hussein had bought yellowcake uranium from Niger. Recall that President George W. Bush in his 2003 State of the Union (SOTU) address used this story about Niger yellowcake as proof that Saddam was trying to develop a nuclear arsenal.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/032207M.shtml
****
The GOOPERS simply can't deal with the truth.
BBL
rj, cutting the funding now won't take effect for 2 years. The 5 sided spending machine in Arlington has a 2 year funding grace period. They are just NOW spending money that was appropriated in 2005, and all these "Supplementals" are SUPPOSED to fix those shortcomings, like no body armor, no vehicle armor, no helmet liners...(etc.), but has been immediately squandered into the Halliburton black hole of non-accountability.
More funding TODAY is basically "supposed" to fix the 2 year old problems at an EMERGENCY pace, but instead is just more grist for the mill.
Go Figure. The Pubies are NO GOOD at doing ANYTHING. (Except stealing money).
Posted by DPD on March 22, 2007 at 10:17 PM
DPD,
I got caught in a flash flood in South Texas once. When the water comes in under the doors and you feel the truck moving on it's own, you know you got to get to higher ground fast. Sounds like you ended up in a nasty spot.
There have been some interesting development in BushWorld of late. You might have missed this while traveling:
I heard some pundit on Tucker Carlson's show the other day talking about how the GOP must abandon their social conservative agenda. He said it so matter-of-fact like they never really believed in all that family values moral crap and are glad to get back to dealing with regular people.
You've got to wonder why the Falwells and Robertsons aren't running for higher ground, too. I guess they think all that pandering by the top candidates means something.
Truth is they have been found lacking and the party bosses think the whole evangelical vote is not worth the negative drain it has on the larger voter population...and the GOP is so sure of itself they are saying it out in public on national TV. Go figure.
I guess God is dead with the Republican party strategists. But do they think all those true Christian Right folks are as stupid as the TV religious hacks?
More LIES from the second rate LIARS (Michelle Martian edition).
So how many people were there, really, at the Gathering of Eagles demonstration? We don’t know, but here’s the final word on that ‘National Park Service’ figure of 30,000 pro-war demonstrators, now ubiquitous on the Web and in the right-leaning media.
Michelle Malkin wrote on Saturday that the figure came directly from the Gathering of Eagles:
***Update: Kit at Gathering of Eagles reports on the National Park Service estimate of the GoE turnout: 30,000 strong. The silent majority no more.***
OOPS!! Somebody actually CALLED The Park Service and got the real poop. It seems that Michelle Munchkin was spreading rumors and trying to pass them off as "truth". OH the HORRORS, to finally find out that REPUBLICANS LIE. That's ALL they do. That's ALL they are capable of doing. THEY LIE ALL THE TIME.
Teh Eagles Have Crash-Landed
BTW, The National Park Service NO LONGER DOES CROWD ESTIMATES DUE TO "NATIONAL SECURITY REASONS" (read that as you like, but MY guess is that the Chimp doesn't want to know how many people HATE him).
Posted by rjsnj on March 22, 2007 at 10:27 PM
rjsnj,
I think the answer is clear. Gore did not come off as a broadcast performer.
The media is so jaded they expect everyone to be a media diva like themselves. Ever since Reagan was crowned the Great Communicator, they media has sucked up to "communicators" and other wise bad actors.
A smart but not too camera-friendly politican is treated as a geek. Abe Lincoln wouldn't have had a chance in today's media driven world. But considering what they did to Anna Nicole's dead body, he might have been lucky to be spared all that cable news love.
Yet with all the fascination for reality TV and mindless contests, most people would still rather have their social security check on time each month. And with all those baby boomers retiring soon you can bet they'll want FDR in the White House no matter how stiff he might be rather that another incompetent GWB.
The nation has learned its lesson big time.
gee joey lieberman needs to hurry up and flip to the republicans quick before they are all being investigated...
Prosecutor Says Bush Appointees Interfered With Tobacco Case
By Carol D. Leonnig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 22, 2007; Page A01
The leader of the Justice Department team that prosecuted a landmark lawsuit against tobacco companies said yesterday that Bush administration political appointees repeatedly ordered her to take steps that weakened the government's racketeering case.
Sharon Y. Eubanks said Bush loyalists in Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales's office began micromanaging the team's strategy in the final weeks of the 2005 trial, to the detriment of the government's claim that the industry had conspired to lie to U.S. smokers.
Nobody at GOP Party Central gave your a call? They aren't interested in the "new" Christian Right base anymore. Talking about abortion and gay marriage is so yesterday. That's where your party is headed...and they aren't shy about talking about it.
I've told you many times. They're leaving you behind.
The word on the cable airways is that social conservatism is out. They are following Arnold's lead, knowing it's change or perish. Faux News is all that's going to be left for your comfort.
You've been used and now they are going to throw you away....just like those Evangelical Negros. Snap out of it.
I'm gong to read before bed. Catch you guys later.
Say a prayer for Mrs. Edwards.
Good night, all.
predatory president, predatory vice president, predatory pigs....so of course we have predatory lending running amok. from cnn:
...Housing analysts predict between 1 million and 3 million U.S. homes will be foreclosed upon in 2007. Already a wave of defaults on subprime mortgages held by those with poor credit have caused a crisis in parts of the industry, and some economists believe a recession could result.
"We knew it was going to be bad, but we didn't think it would be this bad," said Britton, echoing many who warned that increasingly exotic mortgage programs -- including those that required no down payment on home purchases -- would come back to haunt home buyers.
Predatory lending
Subprime loans allowed many Americans with spotty credit to buy into the housing boom, driving home ownership to nearly 69 percent nationwide in 2006, up from 65.4 percent a decade earlier. But teaser rates that kept interest payments low for two or three years have begun to expire, driving monthly payments through the roof.
Shanna Smith, chief executive of the National Fair Housing Alliance, said lenders often targeted the most vulnerable borrowers for subprime loans, even if they were eligible for loans with lower rates. More often than not, the borrowers had little understanding of mortgages.
"All the predatory lending that has gone on, all of the pushing of exotic loans on people of color, female-headed households, families with children, people with disabilities -- it's all coming home to roost," Smith said...
hey wait how can this be...i thought the earth was only six thousand years old and sally's relatives rode dinosaurs up into the hills to get their white lighting and wooden teeth??
Whale fossil is found in vineyard
By Christian Fraser
BBC News, Rome
A skeleton of a five million-year-old whale found in a Tuscan vineyard in Italy
Palaeontologists say the skeleton appears to be complete
The biggest whale fossil ever discovered in Italy has been found in one of the country's finest vineyards.
The five-million-year-old skeleton, 33ft (10m) in length, was dug up in the northern grape-growing area of Tuscany.
The vineyards of Castello Banfi, where the bones were uncovered, produce the famed Brunello de Montalcino wine, one of Italy's most prized.
The whale remains were discovered by a fossil hunter who was given special permission to poke around the vines.
Rich soil
The skeleton appears to be complete and, for the last month, palaeontologists from the University of Florence have been carefully digging around the terraces to extract it in one piece.
Millions of years ago, Tuscany was under water and Castello Banfi was the sea bed...
what is really funny is that the republicans are so totally lame and in retreat that assholes like santorum and delay and gingrich are their spokesmen these days. the washed up and the indicted are pontificating for bush and his clown posse. bush is mumbling and stumbling about and dick cheney is trying to keep his veins open. ahhhh the republican reich is crumbing before it ever really go rolling...tough shit.
hastert was kissing gore's butt yesterday and groveling like the mindless gym teacher tool he is...without delay pulling his strings he flops about like a big old jellyfish on a greased griddle...a truly disgusting man and now a truly impotent one as well.
hey i heard they took karen whose off the mid east assignment and put her to work trying to measure lyn cheney ass with ann coltface's lips...how is that going?
Evening,
My sympathies to the Edwards for the bad news. They are facing cancer quite bravely.
Many of you all here have had to deal with such news. I hold, however, that cancer is a racket and is largely preventable.
We are living in a mine field, but they just keep tossing more in our way, instead of stopping it and cleaning up the place.
Basically, the racket is the chemical industry pretty much gets to put out any and all chemicals in doing business without the cost of determining toxicity or facing liability, the health industry gets a steady stream of sick and dying to treat at enormous cost, and the government gets kickbacks to feign the show of regulatory protections and health standards.
Take a good look at the number and variety of synthetic chemicals in our lives that have limited or no toxological data. Look at the underfunded toothless regulations. And look at the alarming health statistics.
gregg, Illinois is BIG corn country, and also produces more nuclear energy than France. Asstert has SEVERAL nuke plants in his district and most of them have been on the WATCH (OUT) list for years. Asstert is playing to his corporate base, and nothing else.
Morris, Braidwood, Dresden, and the others are just accidents waiting to happen, and the NON regulation by the Federal Government under HIS watch is due entirely to his sucking up to the Industry. Look up the nuclear pollution to the ground water from those plants if you care to indulge yourself in a bunch of YIKES moments.
Zion (Mark Kirk's District) has been decommissioned for years due to SEVERAL "Incidents" and complete FAILURES of safety regulations, yet they are making noises about firing that puppy up agin'.
Asstert just wants more corn and fuel rods shipped so he can keep HIS Expressway funded so HE can pocket more filthy lucre.
Posted by gregg on March 22, 2007 at 11:19 PM
gregg,
There are whale skeletons in the Santa Monica mountains from 11m years ago, when the mountains were formed. I used to dig around there and found some strange fossils as a kid.
hey dpd. we have a nuke plant about thirty miles north of nyc with spent fuel rods piling up and sitting in tubes of water or whatever. the jets that went into the world trade towers flew right past them. gives me the willies...gore was on target yesterday basically telling the congress to throw out their old tunes and games and realize they are either going to solve the problems that come with the production of energy on the scale we demand or be responsible for watching and holding their dicks as the world is destroyed. and he was very clear, if the usa leads others will follow, if we continue the policies and fantasies of the bushies things will go downhill...
anyhow gonna get some sleep. see you in the morning.
tom, that must have been an amazing experience for anyone and especially for a kid.
Cheney to Give BYU Commencement Speech
- - - - - - - - - - - -
March 22,2007 | PROVO, Utah -- Vice President Dick Cheney will give the commencement speech at Brigham Young University on April 26.
The Vice Presidunce will be allowed to bring both his wives to this Mormon event, Lynn and Jeff Gannon.
As chemical use has grown in our society, so too have chemical-related diseases. Cancer, asthma, birth defects, developmental disabilities, autism, endometriosis and infertility are increasingly common. Mounting scientific evidence links the incidence of these diseases in part to environmental toxicants. In the U.S. today:
• 1 in 2 American men and 1 in 3 American women are expected to get cancer in their lifetimes.
• In the 1940s, a woman’s lifetime risk of breast cancer was 1 in 22.
Today it is 1 in 7.
• Asthma and learning disabilities, which are associated with chemical exposures, are on the rise.
• Dozens of now common conditions like birth defects and low sperm count are strongly linked to some chemicals in the environment. See health database.
Despite the clear links between pollution and health, our nation’s laws are not protecting the public. Independent reviews of our nation’s laws to regulate chemicals have found they:
• Fail to provide for adequate testing of existing and new chemicals. The result, we are ignorant of the full hazards of most chemicals.
• Fail to regulate known hazards.
• Fail to provide incentives for safer alternatives.
www.noharm.org/us/chemicalpolicy/issue
-my boldness
From the Office of the Illinois Attorney General:
BRAIDWOOD
From the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the list of :
Permanently Shutdown Nuclear Power Plants
Now, just WHAT are they going to do with all this stuff? Bury it in the ground??
(Oh, that's right. That IS what they do.)
and remember kids, sally is always right and never wrong...hahahahaha
"The Republicans will hold a 4 seat advantage in both the House and the Senate.
That prediction may change again but one thing is "certain - it will not be a blowout year for either side.
Posted by FrostyPumpkins on November 2, 2006 at 03:21 AM"
"No decision in the Irving Libby trial - that means hung jury and mistrial and Libby skates because they are not gonna do it again.
Posted by Honorable*Sally* on February 27, 2007 at 09:49 PM"
...better go pick some of that bird seed out of your bird brain asshole, its jamming up your synapses...
but sally said the earth is six thousand years old and his great granpappy rode on dinosaurs...and he's never wrong so how can this be???
Primordial rocks show early Earth as dynamic place
Thu Mar 22, 2007 4:49PM EDT
By Will Dunham
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Scientists have identified an expanse of rock in Greenland as a remnant of Earth's crust dating back 3.8 billion years, a finding that shows the dynamic geological process called plate tectonics was occurring early in our planet's history.
Writing in the journal Science on Thursday, a team led by Harald Furnes of the University of Bergen in Norway said these ancient layered rocks from southwestern Greenland originally were formed on the sea floor of primordial Earth.
They are made up of thin sheets of formerly molten rock, and look a bit like a multilayered cake. They contain a mix of volcanic rocks associated with the formation of new crust.
Reuters Pictures
Photo
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from the last 24 hours.
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Plate tectonics is a theory broadly accepted by geologists relating to the movement of the gargantuan plates that make up the planet's surface. These plates, largely corresponding to the continents, are in constant gradual motion.
Over millions of years, these plates move vast distances. Where they come together there can be significant geological activity like earthquakes, volcanoes and the creation of mountain ranges.
The fact that most of the continents look like puzzle pieces that fit together -- with the western African coastline roughly matching with the east coast of South America -- represents visual evidence of plate tectonics.
Earth is about 4.5 billion years old. Scientists have debated whether plate tectonics was taking place early in Earth's history or merely in the second half of its history.
your reminding me of the title of that u2 album dpd, how to dismantle an atomic bomb.
anyhow goodnite and see you in the morning. shooting sally fish in a barrel gets tiresome.
Interesting, gregg. I used to belong to the Buckminster Fuller Society.
I STILL have a Dimaxion AirOcean Map on my wall not more than 10 feet away from where I am now sitting. Meeting him in person was one of the highlights of my life, and then I found out that a good friend who went to Southern Illinois University was his neighbor, more or less (lot's of land around there).
EU chemicals law REACH inspires US bill
Published: Monday 18 July 2005 | Updated: Thursday 22 March 2007
Senator Frank R. Lautenberg has introduced a bill to regulate chemicals in the US after a government report criticised current legislation for failing to protect Americans from toxic substances.
Since its introduction in October 2003, the EU's REACH proposal has been the stage for an unprecedented lobbying battle pitting environmental campaigners against industry.
The US administration has so far been critical of REACH, as was revealed in a 2004 US senate reportPdf external detailing the tactics used by the Bush administration and the US chemical industry to amend the draft EU law. The report mentions a cable sent by then Secretary of State Colin Powell directing US diplomatic posts to "raise the EU chemicals policy" as "a costly, burdensome, and complex regulatory system".
www.euractiv.com/en/environment/eu-chemicals-law-reach-inspires-us-bill/article-142660
REACH is a good start, but it has been watered down. Guess which side our government is on.
Posted by DPD on March 23, 2007 at 12:08 AM
DPD,
My friend in Jr and high school, Jamie Snyder, is Fuller's grandson. He toured around with him during high school years, and was the most smart-assed wisecracker in the school. We are in dire need of some futurists like Fuller to plan for some type of liveable future.
Wally, Wally, Wally. What do you know of the Roman and British Empires just before they fell? Hopefully you learned something in school.
Now before you go off on some rant let me say that we are not Rome and we are not Britian. In fact our nation was created in such a way as to fend off the very things that killed one and that our ancestors hated in the other. You laugh becuase you think your way is the way to go, but I wonder if you realize just how much alike these nations you now think.
No matter who has gotten us to where we are today, and I assure you that it was neither party individually but both together that got us here, there are problems to be hashed out. For instance, those who made the push for an Iraq invasion were wrong and that error has cost us a ready military. (Ours is now bogged down in that country and we've destroyed so much equipment there that it becomes nearly impossible to provide personnel and equipment for that 3rd front should it come to be.)
The War on Terror is an interesting thing. Some of us trained to fight it, while others did not and yet make decisions as though they had. We invaded Iraq, instead of focusing our efforts in Afghanistan to achieve an overwhelming victory that could be built upon all because inexperienced people were making the decisions.
You'll not listen I'm sure. You're too tied to your notion of strength in arrogance to think for a moment that another better way may yet exist. What do I know right, I only served in the War on Terrorism for ten years before you knew that such a war existed.
TomN, All I can say is that Bucky was "the DUDE". The International Society of People Who Name Things After Great Thinkers named an atomic element after him. He would have giggled like a school girl being named prom queen, I'm sure.
It looks JUST like his Geodesic Dome!!
December 22, 2006
EU Adopts REACH Chemical Regulation Law
On December 13, 2006, the EU Parliament approved REACH, a comprehensive chemicals law similar to the U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act that will require importers and manufacturers of an estimated 30,000 chemicals to perform toxicity and other testing to demonstrate safety in consumer use. (Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) (“REACH”). REACH establishes a Helsinki-based European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) which will administer the registration process and make determinations as to whether viable alternatives exist for approximately 1,500 hazardous chemicals deemed to be substances of “very high concern.” Where such alternatives are available, ECHA may order a phase-in of the alternative and a ban on the import or manufacture of the hazardous substance at issue.
REACH will enter into force on June 1, 2007. It is the culmination of a long effort to improve and integrate chemicals regulation in the EU, and will replace 40 existing laws and regulations. It seeks to reverse the burden of proof with regard to chemical safety so that industry, rather than public authorities, will be responsible for identifying and controlling risks associated with chemicals manufactured and imported into the EU.
****
- prioritizes new and old chemicals by risk, but will take 11 years to even examine the relatively few already identified.
I wish that we were a thorough people all the time. There are times that we are, but then their are times when we let our emotions get the better of us. That's what happened following the attacks of September 11, 2001 when as a nation we chose to allow this government to send troops into Iraq.
This did not surprise me. I know all about the Fog of War, that depleted mental state from which terrified minds operate in error as often as not. Frightened minds are confused minds. We simply don't consider the long term consequences when we operate in Fight or Flight mode. Hell, we ever have trouble trusting those we've entrusted with providing for our security at times like this. Why else might our nation attack all those professionals calm enough to question a proposed attack on Iraq years before our war to punish those who attacked us on 9/11 was complete?
Trust in the tough guy. That's as complicated a concept as the frightened mind can contain. It sees anyone who thinks before acting as a possible threat to its existance and so fights without ever questioning the correctness of that action first. This is why our nation divided.
In a flash the mind can respond and the body may follow. This says nothing of the quality of that response however. Sometimes, as is the case in this situation, a terrible mistake is made. The Iraq War has made the problem of terrorist threat to the United States worse, so says the Pentagon and our intelligence agencies. You can hide from this reality all you want, but it isn't going to go away.
The strategy chosen on the fly in this case has proven devestating by these standards. The war was meant to reduce the threat due to terrorism after all. Why do we stop and think now rather than responding rapidly in the hope that we can still change the outcome? Because those rapid responses got us here in the first place so obviously proved itself inferior to careful consideration.
Buckster is dude truly.
positively for our great teacher and friend.
My brother had her in high school and was not unaffected.
night
You don't trust anyone do you Wally. Afraid that your own countrymen are out to get you?
So wally has no respect for the military now. You are truly a great representation of your party, son.
If you were a marine, that is also meaningless. Your job may have been painting waste receptacles for all I know.
Posted by WallyCucumber on March 23, 2007 at 12:27 AM
Wally, you don't anything about the military in the first place do you? Otherwise you'd see the foolishness of this statement.
The man actually thinks that we might pay someone to do nothing but paint garbage cans. A rifleman first Wally, that is what every Marine is. You won't meet one who didn't spend at least months out of every year training for combat. We're not all infantrymen full time, but we all know that when the shit hits the fan that is exactly what we become.
I wonder if the boy realizes that even Guardsman who receive less combat training than the basic Marine are serving in combat and security related roles in Iraq.
That's the problem with people like Wally, they disgrace the very people they claim to support simply by not knowing when to shut up.
Here's the sad thing Wally. I served to protect people who knew nothing about the mission I performed. Those serving today are no different. Most, even those who think they know what these guys are going through, haven't a clue and certainly don't attempt to learn more. They simply go about their lives content to know that someone else is protecting their delicate backside.
You have a good night too Wally. It was a pleasure protecting you when you hadn't a clue that I was out there.
G'Nite, TomN
Marine, give it up, he's impervious to reason and gets paid by the response just like that "Thomas from Minnesota" dude who was here several times under different names. I guess their 80 cents per response is really keeping them in the "Good" stuff for the night.
Paid Trolls
They probably don't get their checks from this outfit, but you can BET that the RNC is slipping them some dough, and also wasting the time of the DNC staff.
They are just dirty bastards, that's all. It's ALL they have left. NO accomplishments in 12 years, NO oversight, NO accountability, and NO MORAL COMPASS!
They are children in an adult world, and will eventually crawl into the corner and cry.
(AFTER THEY ruin their own "message" by acting like the children that they truly are.)
Greetings Marine,
Have you read Prescott's Conquest of Peru and Conquest of Mexico? It is among my favorite books, and I am curious as to your opinion of these stranger than fiction chronicles.
www.randomhouse.com/modernlibrary/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780679641773
Self professed Troll here.
I didn't come on this site to try and change anyone's mind. I realize that to many, this is a site to exchange liberal (politically speaking) ideas in a comfortable atmosphere with little to no interference. I usually participate in conservative minded sites (my favorite is the Captains Quarters), and I find that it is much less interesting when liberal trolls don't participate. I've posted here a few times before (not many times) and have received a very dim reception. I usually visit this site when something erupts amongst liberals and I want to gain the other side's perspective. This site tends to be extremely far to the left (confirmed by the fact that a regular poster on here referred to the Huffington Blog as right wing the other day), but more focused than Daily Kos. I won't insult, only ask questions. I will accept insults as is expected from trolls, but please don't delete my posts unless they are indeed insulting, that tends to diminish all of us.
Now a quandry. No basic resolution by congress, nor the Senate will pass limiting funds to the surge in Iraq. Is it more important to side with the "Leave Iraq Now" caucus with no results, or should your party fight for half ass resolutions (that incidentally still don't pass) to exit Iraq next year? Or simply put, should the Dems make a point by pandering to the radical left with terms that will never pass, merely to make a point?
Howza 'bout getting the alcoholic crack head in the White House to FINALLY START DOING HIS JOB?
The money has been allocated 2 years ago, but of course that went out the window before the troops ever saw one cent.
Also, just because "somebody" "said" HuffPo is "right wing" means NOTHING. Trolls are "regular posters" here, and for the most part Huffington Post is a third party entity, in that they post items from other sources, and allow Op-Ed type comments and articles, so, WHAT IS YOUR POINT? A 'Linking Service" does, indeed, have so-called"right wing" articles. It's what Democrats cherish; the open exchange of ideas.
The Pubics, on the other hand have an "I AM ALWAYS RIGHT" attitude and DO NOT allow ANY dissention of ant kind. Just TRY to plop your comments into the RNC.COM site some day. They make TASS look like the "Reader", or the "Village Voice". The Nazis who are running the RNC are the same Nazis who are infesting the White House.
What say you to THEM apples?
And, BTW, how did that "no such thing as a " Mosque Bombing thing that the Captain and Schlemiel (Michelle Martian) were foisting on the ignorant masses work out? You know, the one where the 'Captain" and "ACE" and "EEEKKK" all got together and decided to OUT AN UNDERCOVER AGENT IN THE IRAQI POLICE DEPARTMENT just because the Captain and Schlemiel decided that they were put on this Earth to ONLY serve and protect George the Wise and All Powerful, or whatever.
Boy, Howdy...you wing-nuts NEVER stop killing innocent people, do you?
Now let me get this straight, OK?... IS this "Captain" the same guy who is also called "Gun Counter Gomer", or is that someone else?
Just asking. Feel free to jump in any time, the Democrats are tough enough to deal with dissenting ideas, as opposed to the Pubies who hike up their skirts and hide behind the facade of their ONLY "manly man" Little Prince Charmin of the Brown Shorts.
OOPS, MY bad, it seems that "Gun Counter Gomer" is yet ANOTHER part of that Michelle Martian blog citing circle to add credence to some far fetched wacky theory. The REAL GCG appears to be "Confederate Yankee", but regardless, the cast of characters remains the same, just expanded by one.
So, HOW did that "The AP MADE THE WHOLE THING UP" story line pan out for you wingers? Have you killed enough innocents and outed enough undercover operatives to satisfy your blood lust for a while, or am I just dreaming?
I think the CIA leak was created to keep the CIA from being able to release more information on the CIA’s correct assessment reports of Saddam Hussein’s phony weapons programs. The people who did the leaking may have known that the wide leak of identities compromising CIA activities would prevent the CIA from being able to release how much assessments on Hussein’s phony programs were reported to the White House and most importantly, who the assessments were reported to.
If you remember, as I do, the CIA finally released their assessment that the uranium deals in Niger, where the CIA sent Ambassador Joseph Wilson to investigate, involved a “clever” forgery. I think what the CIA may have meant by clever was that Saddam Hussein had forged the forgery himself to play the international intelligence community that maybe he had weapons and maybe he didn’t, both to protect himself.
I think Richard Cheney may have found out that Mrs. Wilson may have worked in Iraq when Ambassador Wilson’s article was published. Being that Mr. Cheney was arguing with the CIA’s take that Hussein’s weapons programs were phony, he then suspected that the CIA gave Mr. Wilson his job to prove the White House wrong since Mr. Wilson’s wife, was possibly a covert agent in Iraq.
I think then political advisor, Karl Rove, got the idea to use Mr. Cheney’s idea of Mr. Wilson getting his job from nepotism with reporters...knowing he would silence and intimidate the Institution of the CIA itself as a witness.
Antarctic melting may be speeding up
Fri Mar 23, 2007 6:30AM EDT
By Michael Byrnes
HOBART (Reuters) - Rising sea levels and melting polar ice-sheets are at upper limits of projections, leaving some human population centers already unable to cope, top world scientists say as they analyze latest satellite data.
A United Nations report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in February projected sea level gains of 18-59 centimeters (7-23 inches) this century from temperature rises of 1.8-4.0 Celsius (3.2-7.8 Farenheit).
"Observations are in the very upper edge of the projections," leading Australian marine scientist John Church told Reuters.
"I feel that we're getting uncomfortably close to threshold," said Church, of Australia's CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research said.
just like al said
who gives two shits what arlen thinks, says or does. they lost, get over it and bend over. arlen the great moderate republican who walked two pigs--roberts and scalito thru the confirmation process and who will try their best over the next few decades to bring back the good old days of coat hanger abortions, twelve hour workdays, religious nuts running government and probably slavery if given a chance. screw them and arlen and the white house...investigations and interrogations under oath, in public or take it to the supreme court and while we wait for the process to play out the credibility of the administration further erodes and sets the stage for a democratic landslide in 08. from salon:
Subpoenas Force Talks for Testimony Deal
- - - - - - - - - - - -
By LAURIE KELLMAN Associated Press Writer
March 22,2007 | WASHINGTON -- A Senate Republican offered President Bush a compromise Thursday in the standoff over the dismissals of federal prosecutors, suggesting that select lawmakers question Karl Rove and other administration officials in public, but not under oath.
White House counsel Fred Fielding promised to convey the offer to Bush, said Sen. Arlen Specter, who took the first step toward brokering a deal a few hours after the Senate Judiciary Committee approved but did not issue subpoenas for Rove and others.
Specter's plan would grant one of Bush's key demands -- that the officials named in the subpoena authorization testify without being sworn. But the proposal dismisses other White House conditions by suggesting that Rove and the others testify in public.
"Mr. Fielding did not accept or reject it," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.
bush truly is the red queen. trouble is there is a new crowd of hedge hogs in town and they don't play croquet:
John Nichols: Bush delusional on attorneys issue
By John Nichols, March 22, 2007
Is George Bush delusional?
No, that question is not an attack on his intelligence.Nor is it an attempt to suggest that he has taken some bizarre new position although, as it happens, he has.
Rather, it is a serious question about whether the president understands what is going on around him.
John Nichols: Bush delusional on attorneys issue
After he announced Tuesday that the White House would not make a serious effort to cooperate with the Senate Judiciary Committee's investigation into the firing of U.S. attorneys who would not politicize their prosecutions, the president was asked about several of the attorneys who had been removed.
"I'm sorry, just frankly, it bubbled to the surface the way it has, for the U.S. attorneys involved," answered Bush. "I really am. These are I put them in there in the first place. They're decent people. They serve at our pleasure. And yet, now, they're being held up in the scrutiny of all this. And it's just what I said in comments, I meant about them. I appreciated their service, and I'm sorry that the situation has gotten to where it's got. But that's Washington, D.C., for you. You know, there a lot of politics in this town."
Here's the troubling thing about Bush's response.
It appears that he might be unaware that his firing of the U.S. attorneys who, as he notes, "serve at the pleasure of the president" took the situation "to where it's got."
Does Bush think that these U.S. attorneys are under attack by the Senate?
Does he not understand that the Senate is trying to figure out why Bush and his aides went after the fired prosecutors?
Does he not understand that the U.S. attorneys in question will be testifying about wrongdoing by presidential appointees?
That's where the question about the president's awareness of what is going on around him arises.
Indeed, the only comment more delusional than his expression of sympathy for the U.S. attorneys was Bush's suggestion that he and his aides have the authority to refuse to cooperate with congressional requests for information and testimony regarding wrongdoing within the White House.
After bluntly stating that he would fight efforts to have White House staffers testify before the Judiciary Committee, he said of the Senate: "I hope they don't choose confrontation."
The Senate is not choosing confrontation. Bush is.
off with his meds!
sally has made the very serious accusation that i have misquoted him on some of his deeply held beliefs. my staff and i have reviewed our notes and files and have actually discovered that SALLY IS MUCH MORE OF A COMPLETE MISANTHROPIC MORON THAN WE THOUGHT AND EATS BOWLS OF USED KITTY LITTER!
please refer to your hymnals as we now raise up our voices to sing " may your case of facial crotch rot be resistant to ointments "....
good morning, chosen people~
nice photo of the latest republic blowup doll here
"Two months before Bud Cummins was fired as U.S. attorney in Little Rock, a protege of presidential adviser Karl Rove was maneuvering with the Justice Department to take his place," Dan Eggen and Amy Goldstein write.
The article continues, "Last April, Tim Griffin, a Rove aide and longtime GOP operative, sent the attorney general's chief of staff a flattering letter about himself written by Cummins, the prosecutor he was trying to replace, internal e-mails released this week show. Rove and Harriet Miers, then the White House counsel, were keenly interested in putting him in the position, e-mails reveal. New documents also show that Justice and White House officials were preparing for President Bush's approval of the appointment as early as last summer, five months before Griffin took the job."
"The unusual appointment of Griffin, now serving as the interim U.S. attorney in Little Rock, has been one of the central issues in the Justice Department's firing of eight U.S. attorneys, which led to this week's constitutional showdown between Congress and the White House over the testimony of some of Bush's closest advisers," the Post reports.
Radar Online took note of another Griffin email which showed him "aggressively" hustling for Cummins' job.
"One of the most controversial judicial appointments was that of J. Timothy Griffin, whose strongest qualifications for being named the U.S. attorney for Arkansas were that he worked as Karl Rove's assistant in 2005 and did opposition research for the Republicans during the 2000 campaign," the website noted. "In an e-mail to Monica Goodling, the Justice Department's liaison to the White House, Griffin passes along a few references that don't pop up on his resumé."
kkkarl and bozo in it up to their chicken necks:
By Dan Eggen and Amy Goldstein
Updated: 12:02 a.m. ET March 23, 2007
Two months before Bud Cummins was fired as U.S. attorney in Little Rock, a protege of presidential adviser Karl Rove was maneuvering with the Justice Department to take his place.
Last April, Tim Griffin, a Rove aide and longtime GOP operative, sent the attorney general's chief of staff a flattering letter about himself written by Cummins, the prosecutor he was trying to replace, internal e-mails released this week show. Rove and Harriet Miers, then the White House counsel, were keenly interested in putting him in the position, the e-mails reveal.
New documents also show that Justice and White House officials were preparing for President Bush's approval of the appointment as early as last summer, five months before Griffin took the job.
The unusual appointment of Griffin, now serving as the interim U.S. attorney in Little Rock, has been one of the central issues in the Justice Department's firing of eight U.S. attorneys, which led to this week's constitutional showdown between Congress and the White House over the testimony of some of Bush's closest advisers.
Thousands of pages of e-mails and other documents underscore the extraordinary planning and effort, at the highest levels of the Justice Department and White House, to secure Griffin a job running one of the smaller U.S. attorney's offices in the country.
The e-mails show how D. Kyle Sampson, then the attorney general's chief of staff, and other Justice officials prepared to use a change in federal law to bypass input from Arkansas' two Democratic senators, who had expressed doubts about placing a former Republican National Committee operative in charge of a U.S. attorney's office. The evidence runs contrary to assurances from Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales that no such move had been planned.
"This was a very loyal soldier to the Republicans and the Bush administration, and they wanted to reward him," said Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.). "They had every right to do this, but it's the way they handled it, and the way they tried to cover their tracks and mislead Congress, that has turned this into a fiasco for them."
juicy
Turkey says that 3,800 Kurdistan Workers' party (PKK) guerrillas are preparing for attacks in south-east Turkey, and that it is "ready to hit back if the Americans fail to act," reports the Guardian Unlimited.
and from the Guardian report:
Several other factors are adding to the tension between the Nato partners:
· The firm Turkish belief that the US is playing a double game in northern Iraq. Officials say the CIA is covertly funding and arming the PKK's sister organisation, the Iran-based Kurdistan Free Life party, to destabilise the Iranian government.
· US acquiescence in plans to hold a referendum in oil-rich Kirkuk in northern Iraq. Turkey suspects Iraqi Kurds are seeking control of Kirkuk as a prelude to the creation of an independent Kurdistan.
· Plans by the US Congress to vote on a resolution blaming Turkey for genocide against the Armenians in 1915. Faruk Logoglu, a former ambassador to Washington, said that if the resolution passed, relations "could take generations to recover".
· Record levels of Turkish anti-Americanism dating back to 2003, when Turkey refused to let US combat forces cross the Iraq border.
The US is already fighting Sunni insurgents and Shia militias. Analysts say a surge in violence in northern Iraq, previously the most stable region, could capsize the entire US plan. But pressure on the Turkish prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is also growing as a result of forthcoming elections. Military intervention was narrowly avoided last summer when he said that "patience was at an end" over US prevarication. Now conservatives and nationalists are again accusing him of not standing up to Washington.
Good morning, all.
This must be new:
Bomb attack injures Iraqi deputy prime minister
POSTED: 7:38 a.m. EDT, March 23, 2007
Story Highlights
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Salam Zubaie was injured Friday in an attack on his Baghdad compound, security officials and witnesses told CNN.
Zubaie has been hospitalized at a U.S. facility in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone, according to an announcement by the U.S. military.
The Associated Press reported that police said Zubaie was injured in a suicide bombing as he left a mosque near his home with other worshippers.
At least two worshippers were killed in the blast and 10 others were wounded, AP reported the police said...
Good morning, Dems! Looks like Fade and Gregg have been busy reporters. I love the fact that I can come here first thing in the morning and get a good dose of what's going on while I sip my coffee.
Rather, it is a serious question about whether the president understands what is going on around him.
gregg,
Perhaps we should send Bush on a good will tour of Iraq and see if that snaps him out of it?
Some republican jerk was just on CSpan saying that he believes Elizabeth Edwards is faking her cancer so her husband can garner sympathy votes. These repugs are not only delusional, they're paranoid, as well! I guess it's because they will pull every dirty trick in the book to win an election.
ONE PARTY SYSTEM!@!
EVIDENCE: IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS HAVE NOT STARTED YET, AND THE BUSH CRIME FAMILY’S DEPLORABLE BEHAVIOR CONTINUES, WITH A BARE HAND SLAPPING BY THE SO-CALLED OPPOSITION!!!
I AM UTTERLY DISGUSTED!!
good morning, ladies
cyn, that's beyond repulsive...sally got his phone service back on?
sandy, do you ever wonder where they get the weapons?
Unguarded munition sites still feed Iraq violence: report
thanks, Cyn
Ladies, start your engines
should be a very interesting day, in da House. GO NANCY!!!
read you later, y'all --have a fine day
sandy, do you ever wonder where they get the weapons?
fade,
I wouldn't be surprised if Halliburton isn't selling them to everyone.
Posted by Cyn_NY on March 23, 2007 at 08:02 AM
Cny,
The sally*s of this world never sleep or care how stupid they sound as long as they get notice.
The sally*s of this world never sleep or care how stupid they sound as long as they get notice.
Posted by SandyH on March 23, 2007 at 08:22 AM
THANKS, THAT'S WHY I DON'T COME AROUND HERE ANYMORE. WASTING MY TIME.
THANKS, THAT'S WHY I DON'T COME AROUND HERE ANYMORE. WASTING MY TIME.
Posted by HAYDUKE on March 23, 2007 at 08:26 AM
If you don't come around, how's come I could read and then copy/paste your post?
Morning all,
Looks like the disgusting repigs are stirring up trouble in Turkey again. Turkey has been a faithful allie since before WWII, and I believe they are a member of NATO.
It looks like the CIA is at it again trying to covertly undermine Turkey. Will it ever stop? This is the same shit the cheney and bush gang were pulling under ray-gun. Now they are in the driver's seat.
IMPEACH CHENEY AND BUSH NOW!!!!!
I am sick of the utter arrogance of these bastards.
Good morning all.
****
DPD posted concerning the trolls on this blog:
They probably don't get their checks from this outfit, but you can BET that the RNC is slipping them some dough, and also wasting the time of the DNC staff.
***
Look, I have been yelling about this for years. I know for a fact that there are trolls who get paid to disrupt blogs. They did it the entire time in 2003-2004 when job outsourcing was a hot political issue. This is why I recommended to the DNC to improve their blog software. It doesn't take much:
1) Do not allow registration from public email systems such as hotmail.
2) All registration must be done by sending an email back to an email address and clicking an URL to complete the process.
3) Do not allow multiple registrations from the same email address.
4) Monitor and restrict based on IP address.
If the DNC made some simple changes, they could easily get rid of the troll(s) that infest this blog. They should see the value in blog's such as this. It builds up interest in politics.
rj, cutting the funding now won't take effect for 2 years.
****
dpd, that's why I say the war won't end on this presidunce's watch. No way, no how. That's why I would simply load up the budget with all sorts of strings that he won't accept. That accomplishes several goals:
1) The pressure will be on the GOP and presidunce. They will become victims of their own rhetoric. They will be the ones not supporting the troops!
2) It ties the dunce in knots. Puts him in a position where he constantly has to account for what's going on.
3) Creates an evironment where the next president can simply scale down and ultimately pull out.
I think there will come a point where we will have to say no to this ridiculous amount of money for iraq. It will become evident that we can't float more debt without a major fiscal crisis. I am waiting for that moment to hear what the Blue Dog fiscal conservatives say then.
IMPEACH CHENEY AND BUSH NOW!!!!!
****
April 28 - a day of impeachment for the killer chimps:
So how do the fically conservative Blue Dogs rationalize spending 120 billion for Iraq? I thought we are in a "pay as you go" system. Okay Blue Doggies ... please explain where's the 120 billion is coming from? I challenge the rest of the Dems and GOOPERS to answer the same question.
If we have "pay as you go" rules, why don't they apply to iraq?
Posted by HAYDUKE on March 23, 2007 at 08:26 AM
I wasn't talking to you. But thanks for the tip. I'll use this line in the future. Usually all it takes to run off conservatives is to tell them you’re Catholic or a Jehovah Witness.
Yet with all the fascination for reality TV and mindless contests, most people would still rather have their social security check on time each month. And with all those baby boomers retiring soon you can bet they'll want FDR in the White House no matter how stiff he might be rather that another incompetent GWB.
****
seems to me that GWB is pretty lousy in front of a camera. Once you take his "cue cards" away he stumbles all over himself. Ask him a couple of tough impromptu questions and he gets red in the face and storms out of the room. I think without Rove's trickery, GWB would have never made it in politics.
Wally, you don't anything about the military in the first place do you? Otherwise you'd see the foolishness of this statement.
****
Actually, this troll doesn't know anything at all. But, we keep missing it's purpose - to drive people off of this blog. The DNC should wise up and make some software changes to get rid of these GOP plants.
from trollhere:
Self professed Troll here.
****
Hey trollhere, you flatter yourself ...
The DNC should get rid of trolls simply because you are here to be disruptive.
rjsnj,
hannity has been going on and on about how bad it is that the "liberals" are adding all this "pork" to the Iraq bill.
The Democrats have added relief for farmers who were hurt in the various weather related disasters across the US, including Katrina. These SOB repugs were too cheap to help them but the Democrats are helping them. I don't think there is anything wrong with that.
On Progressive Radio the other day the host was saying that we still have the cheapest food in the world because of farm subsidies. In fact we have such an abundance that we export huge quantities of food which is a big plus for our trade deficit.
The repigs are so cheap, that they won't help the farmers stay in business. They are all for the huge corporate farms. They go on and on about eliminating the inheritance tax on "small farms" but they won't lift a finger to help them operate at a profit. These people are total degenerates.
Birth control prices soar on campuses
By JUSTIN POPE, AP Education Writer
Fri Mar 23
Millions of college students are suddenly facing sharply higher prices for birth control, prompting concerns among health officials that some will shift to less preferred contraceptives or stop using them altogether.
Prices for oral contraceptives, or birth control pills, are doubling and tripling at student health centers, the result of a complex change in the Medicaid rebate law that essentially ends an incentive for drug companies to provide deep discounts to colleges.
"It's a tremendous problem for our students because not every student has a platinum card," said Hugh Jessop, executive director of the health center at Indiana University.
There, he said, women are paying about $22 per month for prescriptions that cost $10 a few months ago. "Some of our students have two jobs, have children," Jessop said. "To increase this by 100 percent or more overnight, which is what happened, is a huge shock to them and to their system."...
Here's another brillant idea from the incompetents that will backfire on them.
This irresponsible move by the Repubicans will be a good copy point to direct at young women this coming election. College women should be a target demographic for us. And they will vote Democrat once we get them registered...for life.
Why do the Republicans hate protected sex? And why do they want to add millions of unwanted children to our foster care system that they will have to support with their tax dollars? I thought they were tightwads for everything put war spending.
SALLY IS MUCH MORE OF A COMPLETE MISANTHROPIC MORON THAN WE THOUGHT AND EATS BOWLS OF USED KITTY LITTER!
****
gregg, the DNC should have done something about sally and it's associates (if any) years ago. It doesn't take much to keep trolls off of a blog.
anybody watch Republicans on the floor of the house last night (right before the 30-something Dems), and their Framing for the week consists of using the terms "General Pelosi" and "micromanaging". And did you notice, they ALL now use the term Democrat party.
It has reached the point where these desperate, last sinking attempts to try and save their party actually made me smile as I listened to speaker after speaker say the same thing! They do not realize how merely simple and childish they all sound, reiterating the same phrases over and over!
The repigs are so cheap, that they won't help the farmers stay in business.
****
John, the Repigs only help themselves. So what is pork and what is necessary aid? Isn't giving tax breaks to billionaires, as the Repigs did, a form of pork? I would rather help farmers hurt by disasters than give Bill Gates a tax cut.
On Progressive Radio the other day the host was saying that we still have the cheapest food in the world because of farm subsidies. In fact we have such an abundance that we export huge quantities of food which is a big plus for our trade deficit.
****
John, we need to be real careful with farming. It's close to a trade deficit now because of the foolish trade agreement that the GOOPERS shoved down our throat.
It's very dangerous for a nation not to be able to feed itself. I recall Roman history. They got into deep trouble when they became dependent on grain from outside of Rome. That's how you get embroiled in never ending conflicts.
Self-sufficiency brings peace.
OK, so I'm a little defensive.
BUT; I don’t want to be involved with a spouse party who’s an ENABLER to a violence and dishonesty addict. I know I’m not the only one here.
IMPEACH!!!
JUST LOOK AT THIS CLOWN!
Posted by rjsnj on March 23, 2007 at 09:10 AM
rjsnj,
Bush is one of those glad-handers types. "Glad to see you, farmer." He slaps people on the back and makes them feel like they are special. Here's worked on this technique so long that he can transfer it to TV without even trying.
People who don't like to think much...think he actually likes them. It doesn't matter what he says, as long as he's convinced them that they are part of his entourage. They lap up his pearls of wisdom up like he's King Solomon.
They he picks their pockets and smirks with the rest of the crooks back at the office.
anybody watch Republicans on the floor of the house last night (right before the 30-something Dems), and their Framing for the week consists of using the terms "General Pelosi" and "micromanaging". And did you notice, they ALL now use the term Democrat party
****
Hi Pam, I missed it. I knew about the micromanaging term. That's pretty funny that they are calling Nancy Pelosi a "General".
Well, too bad for the GOOPERS. They are now stuck with being the pro-war, pro-Bush party. There's is no way in the world that their party can ever claim that they want to end the iraq debacle. There is also no way they can transfer the responsibility to the Dems given that they are fighting every attempt at an iraq exit strategy. The GOOPERS will have to face the truth that they are the party that wants to stay in Iraq forever.
The Dems must stand firm on the resolution to start bringing troops home in one year's time and the benchmarks even if the GOOPERS in the Senate veto the bill or Bush vetoes it.
hayduke, my question about other blogs or whatever that you feel are more productive or more useful was a sincere question. and if you are a bit uncomfortable with some of the moves or lack of moves that the democrats make welcome to the club. but a lot of the stuff going on in congress like the investigations and gore making a presentation on global warming and anwar drilling being dead along with social security rape....are good things.
it's associates (if any)
rjsnj,
it has associates alright. And most of them aren't even half as good as the original.
Howard Zinn made an excellent point yesterday.
Grassroots should keep yelling "not one more dime for Iraq".
BUT
Expect the politicians to compromise ... they always do
EXCEPT FOR
Impeachment boy Bush. He never compromises which is why he will drag the GOOPERS down with him over iraq.
Good morning to all. I've been searching for a good explanation of our governments recent morass. Here is one thing I found that is quite interesting. Next expedition, "checks and balances."
Executive Privilege
Executive privilege is a right to withhold information from the legislative and judicial branches by the President or by one of the executive departments. There is question of whether the right exists at all, a question that has lingered since the very first President, George Washington, asserted executive privilege in his very first term. Most times, executive privilege is asserted for purported national security reasons. Washington, however, asserted the privilege when the House requested details of the Jay Treaty - his rationale is that the House has no role in treaty-making and hence no right to request the documents. In modern times, Bill Clinton refused to simply comply with an order to appear before a grand jury, and instead negotiated terms under which he would appear. Richard Nixon's is the most infamous use of executive privilege, and while the Supreme Court, in U.S. v Nixon, 418 U.S. 683 (1974), recognized that there exists a need for some secrecy in the executive branch, but that the secrecy cannot be absolute. The Court ordered Nixon to turn over tapes and documents that a special prosecutor had subpoenaed. More recently, the minutes and records of Vice President Dick Cheney's energy task force were requested and denied based on executive privilege. This case made its way to the Supreme Court, but is still active.
Thanks to Pat Roche for the idea.
They he picks their pockets and smirks with the rest of the crooks back at the office.
****
sandy, that's for sure!
if you are a bit uncomfortable with some of the moves or lack of moves that the democrats make welcome to the club
****
Grassroots should continue to go to the left of the politicians. Remember the concept of the Overton Window:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overton_window
Keep advocating for Impeaching the killer chimps and not one more dime for Iraq
BUT
don't be surprised if you get less from the politicians such as investigations and strings attached to budget amendments.
It's how the system works. Hey, I didn't invent it! But, sometimes I wish there was an easier way. Reminds me of a sign I seen at the last protest:
Four years later and why am I am still here protesting this crap ...
They should separate farm aid from this bill so this much-needed aid is not held up and argued endlessly.
Posted by JenniferT on March 23, 2007 at 09:31 AM
Jennider T,
It might be worth a try. I'm for it.
But the Republicans have pretty well made it clear that their strategy for the next 20 months is to stop debate or a vote on anything our leadership puts forward. With our thin majority in the Senate, they can do it.
I'd love to see Bush veto a few of these bills. The Congressional Republicans are scared stiff that it would hurt them at the polls. So I wouldn't be looking for much in the way of relief for farmers or any working people in this session of Congress.
The bullets in this list may, or may not appear on the blog correctly. If not, and you desire to view a better representation of this list, then, you may use the links within the text.
The American constitutional system includes a notion known as the Separation of Powers. In this system, several branches of government are created and power is shared between them. At the same time, the powers of one branch can be challenged by another branch. This is what the system of checks and balances is all about.
There are three branches in the United States government as established by the Constitution. First, the Legislative branch makes the law. Second, the Executive branch executes the law. Last, the Judicial branch interprets the law. Each branch has an effect on the other.
Legislative Branch
* Checks on the Executive
o Impeachment power (House)
o Trial of impeachments (Senate)
o Selection of the President (House) and Vice President (Senate) in the case of no majority of electoral votes
o May override Presidential vetoes
o Senate approves departmental appointments
o Senate approves treaties and ambassadors
o Approval of replacement Vice President
o Power to declare war
o Power to enact taxes and allocate funds
o President must, from time-to-time, deliver a State of the Union address
* Checks on the Judiciary
o Senate approves federal judges
o Impeachment power (House)
o Trial of impeachments (Senate)
o Power to initiate constitutional amendments
o Power to set courts inferior to the Supreme Court
o Power to set jurisdiction of courts
o Power to alter the size of the Supreme Court
* Checks on the Legislature - because it is bicameral, the Legislative branch has a degree of self-checking.
o Bills must be passed by both houses of Congress
o House must originate revenue bills
o Neither house may adjourn for more than three days without the consent of the other house
o All journals are to be published
EXCEPT FOR
Impeachment boy Bush. He never compromises which is why he will drag the GOOPERS down with him over iraq.
Posted by rjsnj on March 23, 2007 at 09:37 AM
Right you are, rj.
Gotta run. later.
Greg
Yes, more good is happening now.
But the Dems should not be negotiating subpoenas, they should be undertaking impeachment. What's it going to take?
I don't blog anywhere.
Posted by HAYDUKE on March 23, 2007 at 09:30 AM
DeLay looks like he's been sniffing some of his own rat poison thinking it was coke and turned into one himself.
I'd love to see Bush veto a few of these bills.
****
Yes, yes, and yes! Turn Bush into the chief vetoer. I think Pelosi should come up with another 100 hour agenda. Bombard Bush with a bunch of bills that he will reject just because that's the GOOPER strategy. That will make the GOOPERS look like the obstrictionist weasels they reall are.
Obstructionists GOOPERS ... start using that term often.
See y'all later.
We are having some showers here today. I took the day off because Sears is bringing a new refirgerator today.
SandyH,
Delay is a total loser. He even thinks he is going to run for Congress again. He certainly is a weasel. What the hell is he doing out of jail?
What the hell is he doing out of jail?
Posted by Johnedwrd on March 23, 2007 at 09:58 AM
The fact is, that one branch of government may challenge another branch. So, how is the most constructive way of meeting a challenge? By hiding under your desk, or in this case, hiding your staff under your desk in the name of executive privilege?
No, this is just an end around ploy by Rove to distract the democrats, and make them look like vindictive partisan politicians to the American public. Fact, President Bush already appears as the partisan, as do the filibustering republicans, henceforth, they need something to mire the democrats while the administration stoically "stays the course."
Well, the senate needs to "stay the course" in challenging the executive branch, which will further impeach an administration that just wants to play political games. The biggest question here is, "What do they have to hide?" This is not a case of national security. It is a case of judicial representatives being fired for political reasons.
TODAY'S CADENCE BROUGHT TO YOU BY IRAQ VETERANS AGAINST THE WAR!!!
Democrats They Have No Spine,
Bush Says Jump They Fall In Line
Democrats They Say No More,
But Vote The Funds, They Own The War
CHORUS ON ALL:
Sound Off One-Two
Sound Off Three-Four
Bring It On Down One-Two-Three-Four One-Two
NO WAR!
You Cannot Be Against The War
And Vote The Funds To Kill Some More
Vets For Peace Are Here To Say
Bring Brothers, Sisters Home Today
In November We Said No
Democrats Have Nothing To Show
The People Spoke, We Said No More
How Much More Must We Endure?
Stop The Money, Stop The War
What The Hell Is Congress For?
Not One More Dime, Not One More Day
That Is What We're Here To Say
Republican And Democrat,
Neither One Will Bring Troops Back
Bring Our Troops Back To Our Soil
We Say No More Blood For Oil
Hold Your Head And Hold It High
Veterans We Are Passing By
This Is What We’re Marching For
Stop The Killing, Stop The War
Three Thousand Dead, Four Years Of War
We Have All Been Here Before
Stop The Funding For The War
Soldiers Back Home To Our Shore
====================================================
====================NEW THREAD===============================
=====================================================
JenniferT on March 23, 2007 at 10:25 AM,
Ann C.,
Only too typical that you would compare an extra marital affair with attempting to politicize the Department of Justice. You never cease to amaze me, Ann.
Posted by HAYDUKE on March 23, 2007 at 08:26 AM
I wasn't talking to you. But thanks for the tip. I'll use this line in the future. Usually all it takes to run off conservatives is to tell them you’re Catholic or a Jehovah Witness.
Posted by SandyH on March 23, 2007 at 09:07 AM
Yeah, but if you want to make them run screaming, tell them you're a witch...and make a hand gesture when you say "witch".
Bravo to the House for passing the bill calling for U.S. troop withdrawal!!
Just heard baby bush throw his baby fit on CNN and he again he lied. He said the American people want to finish the war. LIE. He said the troops don't want to be let down. LIE.
The American people want their kids home now! The troops only disruption in their lives has been the result of bush separating them from their families and sending them to a war that was organized based on lies.
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO STOP THE BUSH ARROGANCE NOW!
Don't give up Dems! Don't stop just because he's throwing his fit. Don't give in!!! Don't relent!
Impeach the Bush Dog ... April 28th ... a special day for the impeachment boy Bush:
TODAY'S CADENCE BROUGHT TO YOU BY IRAQ VETERANS AGAINST THE WAR!!!
Democrats They Have No Spine,
Bush Says Jump They Fall In Line
Democrats They Say No More,
But Vote The Funds, They Own The War
****
Fear not ... the impeachment boy is in a bind now. He won't agree to conditions but he'll get no gun money if he vetoes the bill with the conditions.
By all means, keep advocating for NOT ONE MORETIME.
Overton Window to the left ... hard left ...
Delay is a total loser. He even thinks he is going to run for Congress again.
****
John,
Is the bug man Delay going to serve from a prison cell?
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