Wednesday Open Thread
Today the internet team adds a new member! Welcome, Stephanie, who will be taking over for Christy as the newest editor of Democrats.org!
This is an open thread...
Comments (200) «
Both Senator John McCain and the GOP are spinning what success Iraq has achieved on its own by drafting a law that shares oil revenues among the regions in February that helped cut down on sectarian violence as a U.S. success of the troop surge.
Some U.S. Generals said they did not want more troops in Iraq because this would allow Iraqi forces to lean on the U.S. occupation more instead of independently building on their own forces more.
welcome Stephanie. We look forward to your work.
Look here. there ARE some Conservatives who are not Bush boot lickers, rubber stampers, defenders of Lies and killing !
"Leading voices in the conservative movement are demanding that the Democrat-controlled Congress restore checks and balances within the government and rein in the power of President George W. Bush.
But their point of view is consistently being drowned out by the "Anne Coulter wing" of the Republican Party, fed by the "ignorance of members of Congress about the principles of a constitutional democracy."
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/040407J.shtml
Bush's tough boy stance did not work, so let's see what a little diplomacy can do!
"Rep. Tom Lantos (news, bio, voting record), the head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee who was in Pelosi's delegation, said the meeting "reinforced sharply" the potential benefits of talking to Syria. "This is only the beginning of our constructive dialogue with Syria and we hope to build on this visit," he told reporters.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070404/ap_on_re_mi_ea/mideast_pelosi
Welcome Stephanie!
ACTION ITEM (see PamB I can do this!)
Contact your Congresscritters about the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. It is scheduled for introduction in the Senate April 12th and the House around April 23rd.
It's very important that we work to encourage Congress to do the right thing for gay and lesbian Americans. The Family Research Council is pushing their members to try to falsely influence Congress into believing that this act would allow for the charging of "thought crimes." In other words, that if you think or say that someone will burn in hell for being gay, that they'd be charged with a hate crime. This is NOT THE CASE!!! This act is about allowing for law enforcement to pursue physical crimes and violence as a hate crime based on a person's race, religion, ethnicity, sex, or sexual orientation. This act protects ALL OF US!
I can't say what kind of hate crimes are perpetuated against other groups, but yesterday I posted a link about hate crimes against the gay community (see here). These aren't numerical stats, but real people with real experiences. I would encourage you to share some of these with your members of Congress and ask them if they still think it's not necessary to protect all citizens from hate crimes.
So, here's your action item: contact your Congresscritters and ask them to support the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
Rudy & Judy, save your money and your time. You have Zero chance !
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - GOP presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani, the consummate New Yorker, sought on Tuesday to convince conservative Iowa Republicans he has plenty in common with them.
"We're all much more similar than we think, whether you're in Iowa or you're in New York, or California or somewhere else, you've got the same issues," the former New York mayor said on his first visit to the important early-voting state as a candidate.
Considered a hero in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Giuliani leads all other Republican contenders in national popularity polls. Yet, his two inaugural appearances in Iowa — one in the afternoon and another in the evening — didn't draw enormous adoring crowds fit for a superstar.
As he seeks the GOP nomination, it's clear Giuliani faces hurdles in Iowa's leadoff caucuses. He not only is from ultra-liberal New York but he also backs abortion rights and gay rights, stances that may hurt him with the Midwestern state's Republican caucus-goers who tend to be more conservative than the party as a whole. State surveys show the race in the state competitive between Giuliani and Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) of Arizona.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070404/ap_on_el_pr/giuliani2008
fidel castro who is not my favorite guy but who is no clown has this to say about biofuels. from reuters:
Unable to give speeches, the formerly verbose Castro has taken up the pen to attack his ideological nemesis, the U.S. government, focusing on the Bush administration's plan to increase fuel production from renewable crops instead of oil.
Ethanol production topped the agenda at Bush's meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at Camp David last week. The United States and Brazil are the world's top producers of the biofuel.
"At Camp David, Bush declared his intention to apply this formula on a world scale, which means none other than the internationalization of genocide," Castro wrote.
Dozens of nations do not have oil and cannot produce corn or other grains to make ethanol because they lack water, he said. The surge in demand for corn will push up grain prices, while the threat of a U.S. invasion of Iran is keeping oil prices high, Castro wrote.
"Where will the poor nations of the Third World get the minimum resources to survive?" he asked.
----what fidel says about using corn to make automobile fuel in a world of rampant starvation makes sense. bush's whole approach to reducing greenhouse gases is completely market driven and pretty idiotic, he is at a crossroads in his tenure where he can choose to offer some real leadership or stay with the very narrow appreciation of technology and markets he has held his whole life (free markets good, regulation bad) and which are endemic to his class or step out from behind the curtain and try to find a way to use the tools he has at his disposal to point us in a new direction that might just build a decent world for our children and grandchildren.
if we are going to really look at problems and solutions we have to listen to what all the players have to say, christians, socialists, capitalists, atheists, republicans, democrats and so on...this malarkey about ethanol is merely a sop to the farming states in the midwest and members of both parties are involved in this deception. biofuels are not the answer to the global warming and environmental degradation problem the world faces.
IRAN FREEING THE 15 BRITISH SOLDIERS.
Notice the sailor thanking the Iranian PM for his 'forgiveness' ! This will all be very interesting now, to see who was telling the truth .
The comparisons are eerie:
http://www.bushorchimp.com/pics.html
It's truly amazing how they got the chimp to perform all these tasks and expressions. Oh, and the monkey did a fine job too.
gregg:
Good post.
The increase in the use of corn has already created Mexico's tortilla crisis. I predict that it will be the first of many such crises.
The only good I could see coming from the use of ethanol is maybe it will drive the cost of high-fructose corn syrup up so food processors will go back to using sugar, which is better for you and would help a lot of sugar beet growers in the western states.
Food prices rising beyond people's abilities to pay for groceries far out-weighs that.
Industrial hemp could be used for biofuel, if the US government would get it's head out its posterior and decriminalize hemp. However, looking at the history of hemp in the US, that won't happen until oil prices get high enough that we can no longer afford to buy petro-plastic artificial fibers.
The big agribusinesses which are pushing corn based ethanol don't care about starvation, ethics, or human decency. They only care about money and they're willing to buy politicians to get it.
Posted by PamB on April 4, 2007 at 10:05 AM
Good morning everyone!
As I was listening to the news last evening it dawned on me that there were no less than 3 stories where the media (I think NBC)actually told the truth. They actually talked about the army he had around him in Iraq, they made the Bush rant in the Rose Garden yesterday look foolish, and pointed out that Speaker Pelosi's visit to Syria was preceded by Repuglicans.
Hmmmmm....maybe there is hope!
I just finished my "interview" with the recruter (who is in the National Guard) for the SSS.
It's a 20 year volunteer position that meets once a year, (without a draft) more if the draft is reintroduced. He stated that there are openings on the board due to others service time being up, that he is merely seeking to replace.
He also stated that the current Director of the SSS has closed up shop on the past 3 organizations he has been in charge of. (I didn't get a good feel from the recruter toward the appointee made by w)
It looks like I'm on board now. I'm sure to learn more after my first meeting.
Sorry nothing "juicy" to report. Maybe later?
Congratulations to Tony Blair and England, on its pending diplomatic release of the 15 sailors who were captured by Iran.
If those sailors had been Americans, Bush, Cheney, and the bombers would have dragged us in to WWIII.
(AP) - LONDON-British fighter pilots were asked by a military chief to consider flying suicide missions as a last resort to stop terrorists, the defense ministry acknowledged Tuesday.
Air Vice-Marshal David Walker told crews to consider the scenario at a training conference, Britain's The Sun tabloid newspaper reported.
Walker asked pilots what they would do if they suffered weapons failure as they pursued terrorists attempting to fly an aircraft into a British city, or as they chased ground vehicles carrying militants to a target.
http://news.findlaw.com/ap/o/51/04-03-2007/67fe0006b291cebf.html
Presidential Candidates Walk Our Public Streets Of Dollars, Not Millions!
Do not we have the votes to elect you, or is it the Corporate machines?
It would be nice if our politicians would join us on Barber Shop tours. That Presidential candidates, would not only attend there segregated churches, instead going from Baptist to Catholic to Jewish, and even Moslem churches uniting US as a divine country of God's love, not dividing US in increasing segregated religious extreme Conservative Taliban like values.
While Hillary is like Bush, refusing to walk our public streets, instead issuing these high fashion statements. Osama is going to a black church, never inviting diversity in with him to pray. Nor does he attend other white churches, who will support him, fearing to lose that black vote and white vote that says one must have their place in Today America. That MLK dream was just that a dream!
The New Old Guard seems to whitewash the need for American racial harmony that must walk the Katrina streets of Insurance needs of middle and lower class Americans, who then are united into the wealthy Country Club called the United States. America really needs a People President, not a Corporate CEO, who segregates themselves in secret closets of royalty dining Corporate loyalty.
I think we need a media program called the Barber Shop, where Free Speech is an individual right of passage. That someone in the smallest town can have a voice as big as New York City.
America’s Barber Shop He-Art
Barber Shop talks away from Country Clubs,
Poverty of the He-art of American streets.
Neglected voices of Old Guard Politicians,
Katrina hearts of Washington’s lost souls!
Private media upon denial of public needs,
Greatest segregated abuse of hiding America.
Showing only Republican Corporate welfare,
Business birthday suits, million dollar wealth!
Newspapers filter those Independent voices,
Never reaching in deep hearts of needy people!
Showcasing Conservative biased viewpoints,
Most of the public is Judged, not worth saving!
Religions of segregation audiences of clones
Taking God’s divine vision mirroring themselves
Where His environment “At Will” can pollute
Global warming of America’s Garden of Eden!
What kind of religious heart has political faces
Insurance of lower and middle class dreams
Politicians segregated from walking public streets
Kissing Corporate sponsors needing Five Star Treats!
The Conservative Weather Channel:
Buchanan: This morning I read the Bible and asked God to help me see His vision for today. With His blessing I researched past temperatures for this time of the year and factored in the sins of humanity. Using this data, we performed a statistical report to find the average mean high seasonally adjusted temperature. God willing, we can expect the high today to be 65 degrees, plus or minus 13.34 degrees. The range of course, is the statistically accepted two standards of deviation of the mean sample value.
Falwell: I'm glad you took the time to explain your methods instead of just picking a random number out of the air. So what would you suggest for our viewers that are going to be outside today?
Evolution disproved by a jar of peanut butter:
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/50013/
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH....snort....bahahahahahah...
During the session, Gore's "Chicken Little" scenarios were met with skepticism, particularly from Senate Republicans like Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., who said he, like many scientists, believed the dire global warming projections were a "hoax." On the House side, the former vice president was called a prophet by some Democratic members but his revelations were challenged by others. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, cited 600,000-year-old scientific evidence that Gore's carbon dioxide claims are false. When Gore introduced …
Wait. Back up a moment. What was that last bit from Rep. Joe Barton?
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, cited 600,000-year-old scientific evidence …
600,000 years?
B-b-b-but the Family Research Council doesn't believe that the earth is 600,000 years old! How can Barton have "scientific evidence" that's 594,000 years older than the universe itself?
Circuit City who fired its employees in mass, who owns the stock, and are they on the For Sale block. If Congress does not condemn this I can see Corporate American firing the Middle Class in minimum wages poverty "At Will" of CEO Royal benefits. Where are the Democratic voices in this atrocity.
Is Corporate America ready to terminated the US population into a third world working economy?
dlesterpoet,
It appears that Circuit City is a big repig contributor. What you say is no doubt correct.
BuyBlue Directory
Good morning, all.
I think they call it acting civilized. Good for Blair and Ahmadinejad. Let's see how the Republicans spin this as cowardly behavior.
morning SandyH
It appears that Nancy Pelosi was also successful in Syria. chimp had a fit and is dissembling(sp?). Like a typical moron, he cannot grasp the importance of diplomacy.
Nancy Pelosi
Good Afternoon to all!
Well, at least the British remember!
A deserved moment of silence, please, for a man that did so much humanity.
Oh, yeah, welcome Steph!
lurk-bbl
Posted by SandyH on April 4, 2007 at 12:31 PM
Oh Sandy, the republics have already started the namecalling....
The once-proud Brit military has collapsed to a sorry state when its Royal Marines surrender without a fight, then apologize to their captors (praising their gentle natures!) while criticizing their own country. Pretty sad to think that the last real warriors fighting under the Union Jack are soccer hooligans.
http://instaputz.blogspot.com/2007/04/as-usual-wingers-blame-victim.html
Hi, John.
I was beginning to think diplomacy was a lost art. This just shows how the American people have been so short changed in the last six and half years. We deserve better.
There is always a diplomatic answer to any problem. Bush and Cheney don't want to face it. War means profits to them. Death for dollars is their philosophy...after all none of their kids are risking their lives.
Either the Republican Congressional incumbents join our Democratic leadership or they will have to face the consequences at the polls in 2008. We are trying "to show them the way." I'm truly proud of those in Congress who have the nerve to stand up against King George.
I think it's time to just ignore Bush and let him rant and rave like the crazy man he is. When Ahmadinejad starts acting sane, we know the White House is in serious public relations trouble; and that's all they have ever been...a propoganda machine.
bbl.
In one of bush'a diatribes yesterday he said mistakenly said Democrat then quickly changed it to Democratic. He noticed the heat he received over the mistake in his State of the Union Address.
Pay attention dumbya. It's called talking, it's called a diplomatic solution.
Perhaps Condi should go back to school too. The world and a lot of us are weary of the "carry a big stick" diplomatic effort that permeates this administration.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aNin0nzC7Dog&refer=home
For the first time since the incident, the U.K. government yesterday had direct contact with
Iran's Supreme National Security Council chief Ali Larijani.
Larijani, who represents Supreme Iranian Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, held talks by telephone yesterday with Blair's chief foreign policy adviser Sir Nigel Sheinwald, the official news agency said.
Posted by BlueinIdaho on April 4, 2007 at 01:05 PM
Hey Blue....I'm having some fun with the Ralph Peters rant over on instaputz...your link.
I'm copying and pasting his take on the British Marines on the the blogs at the Guardian and BBC. He'll be real popular in the UK now!!
They won't waste anytime hooking his nad's up to a car battery...they'll just remove them..
Ralph Peters New York Post
April 3, 2007 -- THE greatest shock from the Middle East this year hasn't been terrorist ruthlessness or the latest Iranian tantrum. It's that members of Britain's Royal Marines wimped out in a matter of days and acquiesced in propaganda broadcasts for their captors.
one of the more astounding predictions from the world of wingnutiness is that yesterdays supreme court ruling will SLOW DOWN PROGRESS in dealing with greenhouse gases. here is the contrarian john tierney in the ny times:
"If history is any guide, the right answer is c. Ordering the E.P.A. to address global warming may be a legal victory for environment groups, but it will probably just slow progress against global warming."
apparently the free market was just getting up to full speed in dealing with this problem but now that communists and socialists have insulted it the market will start spewing even more pollutants into the air for spite...so its not only a free market but its a spiteful market as well!
Posted by BlueinIdaho on April 4, 2007 at 01:05 PM
Man I hope a house doesn't fall on me but I just copied the link to the New York post and copied Ralph Peters article and pasted it on the Royal Navy and Marine website.
I wouldn't wanta be Ralph Peters after a few of them Royal Marines have a look at what he had to say about them....
God I love technolgy :):)
so its not only a free market but its a spiteful market as well!
Posted by gregg on April 4, 2007 at 01:40 PM
Oooooh....scary...What a dipshit. The EPA is gonna love this. It gives them teeth backed by a Supreme Court ruling.
The EPA is already monitoring some of our biggest CO2 polluters and if you were on the list, the last thing you'd want is a reading that is bigger than your last reading.
They don't jack around either. We can't wash a truck in our shop without every drop of water going through a separator pit. If it goes to the curb it's an open the check book, bend over and get a bankruptcy lawyer, kind of fine.
If I'm GM/Ford/Damlier or Detroit Edison, I'm busy today trying to inhale any additional pollutants that I can.
Good Afternoon, ALL!
Just WHAT is Cheney doing lurking in the shrubs, and does he have a gun?
...so its not only a free market but its a spiteful market as well!
Posted by gregg on April 4, 2007 at 01:40 PM
gregg,
Same thing with Iran. Bush will probably attack them just to show Blair that diplomacy is a waste of time...and for defying him.
I can hear Junior now, "We can't be too careful with these WMD that Ahmadinejad is developing. I'll make a pre-emptive attack and show the world."
...just like he did last time with Iraq.
Did you read that article in the NYT today about our Western states taking steps to address the fresh water shortage there....instead of the administration taking the initiative?
This is obviously an inter-state problem that needs to be addressed before it becomes a crisis. On this Bush will not take a pre-emptive move.
Instead those fundie graduates that the White House has put in charge of all our federal agencies are too busy muzzling scientists and blacking out info in reports that doesn't agree with Creationism. If God wanted us to have fresh water, he’d provide it.
By the way, I really enjoyed that peanut butter video that Blue posted earlier. That "engineer" was a hoot. They couldn't find any fundies bio-chemists to explain how life couldn't possibly grow in a can of Spam? I've often thought that stuff looks like it could grow feet and walk away.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070404/ap_on_re_us/us_foreign_affairs;_ylt=A0WTcU0mjxNGqyUBRwBI2ocA
WASHINGTON - Americans are expressing growing nervousness about their country's foreign policy, according to a survey, with about two-thirds saying relations with the rest of the world are on the wrong track.
82 percent say the world is becoming more dangerous for the United States and its people, with 48 percent saying "much more dangerous."
_73 percent say the United States is not doing a good job as a leader in creating a more peaceful and prosperous world, with 34 percent saying it has done a "poor" job.
_68 percent believe the rest of the world sees the United States negatively, with 34 percent saying "very negatively."
_61 percent say America's safety from terrorism does not depend on success in Iraq, and 70 percent say its troops should leave within the next 12 months (19 percent say immediately).
_84 percent say "initiating military force only when we have the support of our allies" should be important to our foreign policy, with 51 percent saying "very important."
Posted by DPD on April 4, 2007 at 02:41 PM
Lurking in the Extreme....
How creepy is that?? He could have been the second shooter in Dallas. He's about the right age.
Anti-War Crowd Turns On Obama
As Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. defends himself against anti-war critics this week, his rivals are taking the opportunity to cast themselves as more firmly opposed to President Bush's Iraq policy than Obama – who happens to be the only leading Democratic candidate who publicly opposed the war when it began.
Posted by gnois on April 4, 2007 at 02:52 PM
More like stalking. Why isn't Cheney running for President? He could come out of the shadows. He wants to be King of the World so bad.
Ukrainians protest early election order
Thousands of supporters of Ukraine's Russian-leaning prime minister marched Wednesday to the office of the pro-Western president, protesting a presidential order to hold early elections.
Place this under the "No shit, Sherlock!" file.
Elections may prove to be very expensive
Poll workers take your mark and get ready for a whirlwind of activity.
Local elections for city councils and school boards are set for November and the state's presidential primary, now moved forward, will occur in February. A primary for the rest of the state's partisan offices is set for June 2008, with a presidential election five months later in November.
The poll, completed in March, found that public pessimism extends beyond the war in
Iraq. More than eight in 10 respondents said they were worried about the way things are going for the United States in world affairs.
Posted by gnois on April 4, 2007 at 02:48 PM
I wonder what the numbers would be for those that are worried about the ways things are going for the United States...at home? I'd say those numbers are passed the red zone.
Some media diva was joking around on MSNBC today about gasoline prices rising and what consumers could do. Her bright idea? To get better gasoline mileage, everyone should buy a new car. Duh.
Like we all can go out and buy a new $20,000 plus car with all the tax cuts we got last year?
Posted by gnois on April 4, 2007 at 02:01 PM
Fantastic! It's so easy for the vitriol pundits to call soldiers cowards when they take steps to not get themselves killed.
Apparently, the only troops Ralph Peters supports are dead troops.
Posted by Esmeralda on April 4, 2007 at 03:06 PM
Essie,
Well, you election officials better find a way to become more productive. Otherwise the Republicans are going to outsource this function to a private contractor...from the UAE.
Better yet, they might suggest not having any elections. This country would run a lot smoother and efficiently as a dictatorship.
Seriously, you could start your own small business and become a private contractor like the rest of us. It's loads of fun and you'll be your own boss.
(Don't believe for a minute.)
Sandy,
More productive? Are you picking on me 'cause I blog/read news while the addicts puff away? snicker
If it wasn't for the insurance, cleaning houses would bring me just as much money as my current pay, and I wouldn't have to deal with this p.i.a. catty women. And even though I like working for the public, I can do without the repugs. ;p
Some media diva was joking around on MSNBC today about gasoline prices rising and what consumers could do. Her bright idea? To get better gasoline mileage, everyone should buy a new car. Duh.
She must be working for Toyota....
Needn't worry though. If she had been paying attention to the early news instead of her reflection in the studio camera, she would have been able to announce that with, the release of the British naval personel by Iran, gas prices will go down. Apparently that was the reason they went up in the first place.
Not holding my ever increasing polluted breath though. It's now Easter and you can bet the bunnies at Exxon et al: will be aiming at our collective wallets, which from a males perspective, is very close to the rectum.
From a link at Cheers & Jeers on the Daily Kos, some notable MLK Quotes.
Hey gnois, you may want to give the brits this little item too...
Once again, it's me and Ralph Peters on the same wavelength, deploring the cowardice of the British sailors and marines kidnapped by Iran. When it happened, I said I hoped the ones who'd shamed their country would be court-martialed on return to Blighty, and given dishonorable discharges after a couple years breaking rocks in the Outer Hebrides (which, believe me—I've been there—have a LOT of rocks). Now, I confess, I wouldn't shed a tear if some worse fate befell them.
The only coherent response I get to these sentiments is: "How do you know what they've been through? How would YOU stand up?" To which the obvious reply is the one Dr. Johnson gave in some similar case: "I may criticize a carpenter who makes me a bad table, though I cannot make a table myself. It is not my job to make tables." It is the job of a Royal Marine to fight, and if necessary suffer and die, for his country. They know that when they go in. It's what they are told! I nurse a quiet hope that if put to the test, I would stand up as well as any Marine. Whether or not I would, however, is irrelevant. Whether or not I could stand up well to torture, I expect Marines to.
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MGNkYmUxOTAyMmZkNWU5ZGQ2YTAxMmJiNmQ3MDRmNmU=
Speaking of a dictatorship...
Did the White House ever send Congress those missing 18 days of e-mails from the DOJ? Or any of Rove's RNC e-mails?
Essie,
You know your like cleaning names from the voter rolls better than houses.
Posted by BlueinIdaho on April 4, 2007 at 03:15 PM
I met some Royal Marines in a pub in Sydney a long time ago. They were drinking on one side of the pub and some Aussies were drinking on the other. I was in the middle and not in any uniform. Last uniform I wore was in school.
It was the aussies home turf and although they have similar accents that's about it. They really don't like each other.
We were drinking the place dry, everbody buying drinks for me, Australians and Pommies (Aussie nickname for UK military personel or for that matter any citizen from the Isle) cause I was safe and the tourist.
I've been in some pretty tough pubs but let me say this about the Pom's. There is no way in hell that any of them would have backed down to any Aussie and Aussies don't back down from anyone. So in spite of what anyone may think or write about another countries military, these guy's are just as "bad ass" as anyone that our military can churn out.
To tell you the truth, I'd be scared shitless to go into the same pub now with an american accent. They'd kick my ass just for that.
And that my dear friends is part of the "legacy" president g dumbya has left behind for us all.
Ralph Peters better rethink any travel plans he may have to the UK particularly if it included a pub crawl.
Whether or not I could stand up well to torture, I expect Marines to.
Posted by BlueinIdaho on April 4, 2007 at 03:34 PM
What is this pre-occupation with torture among the Right?
And it didn't look like any of those British sailors and marines were tortured to me. Actually, with all of them dressed up in suits and the one woman in a dress, they looked more like they were ready to go to Easter services.
Posted by SandyH on April 4, 2007 at 03:41 PM
That was his point: that they should have been subjected to torture OR WORSE before attempting to befriend their captors. What Derby fails to realize is that the UK is not at war with Iran AND that it is still in dispute as to who caused this ruckus. I'm pleased that they were not tortured...but Derby isn't.
Posted by BlueinIdaho on April 4, 2007 at 03:34 PM
I emailed the instaputz link which had that jerks comments in it along with Ralph Peters article.
Don't think he'll be welcomed with flowers and candy either :)
To help you with perspective...ever seen a soccer riot in England?? We think of ourselves as sports nuts and huge fans. These guys throw rocks at the opposite sides fans and I've seen them rip sections of bleachers up to beat the opposing fans and players with. Hell, one time they set fire to the stadium after a loss.
So, when you enlist in the armed services over there, some of the new recruits were the same guys setting fire to someone that supported an opposing team.
You wouldn't sleep to well in your bunk if say you were a Liverpool supporter and the barracks were full on Man U supporters.
Trust me, those guys know how to rumble. they laugh their asses off at our little signs we hold up in the stadiums for ABC. Think that we are pathetic.
Support the troops in the UK means, support your local soccer or cricket team and if you don't, we'll bust your balls.
Posted by SandyH on April 4, 2007 at 03:41 PM
Do yourself a favor and check out the link that Blue posted earlier. 90% of the comments questioned the criticism and many were funny as heck. Some were very clever about cruel and unusual torture techniques....and how stupid Ralph Peters truly is.
Pass the word...we won't see this in a MSM near you and apparently, it is only available on kentucky.com
And that's no shit!!
Upstaged by Nancy Pelosi and that's what has dumbya's little spiderman knickers in a knot.
http://www.kentucky.com/524/story/31680.html
The U.S. House members, who included Virginia Republican Frank Wolf, Pennsylvania Republican Joe Pitts and Alabama Republican Robert Aderholt, also said they had raised with Syrian officials the issue of stopping the alleged flow of foreign fighters from Syria to Iraq.
In a statement issued by the U.S. Embassy in Damascus, the congressmen said they had talked about "ending support for Hezbollah and Hamas, recognizing Israel's right to exist in peace and security, and ceasing interference in Lebanon."
"We came because we believe there is an opportunity for dialogue," the statement said. "We are following in the lead of Ronald Reagan, who reached out to the Soviets during the Cold War," it added.
Posted by gnois on April 4, 2007 at 03:53 PM
From one of the comments. Spot on.:
"Dick Cheney would have shot them right in the face, had they been some defenseless birds in a cage released by an illegal immigrant working on a ranch in Texas.
George W. Bush on the other hand would have choked on a pretzel and then puked on the leader."
Forget Obama's apparent $25 million haul, according to the teevee, it's the 100,000 donors which are impressive.
(snip)
The Obama campaign raised $6.9 million over the Internet from more than 50,000 donors.
Over 100,000 Donors
In a statement issued by the U.S. Embassy in Damascus, the congressmen said ...
Posted by gnois on April 4, 2007 at 04:06 PM
gnois,
Pardon my ignorance, but I thought we closed that U.S. embassy in 2005. Did we reopen it since? Or, did we just pull the ambassador in 2005, leaving the embassy staff as an offering for political bounty?
Meeting in Syria with Assad:
Assad:
Who's on the other line?
Assistant:
Nancy Pelosi
Assad:
Frank nice talking to you and I hope you enjoyed your visit here. But, I gotta go. You know, business as usual. And Frank, thank you for the nice photo of your president. That was very thoughtful. Have your people call my people.
Assad:
Nancy, Nancy, Nancy I am so pleased that you are here in Damascus. I've just spent the last hour in a mind numbing meeting with some of your republican counterparts. They got very upset that I did not have a news conference with them and said something about a carrier group they had parked in the Persian Gulf.
Nancy: Murmuring
Assad:
Yes I aggree maybe it was jet lag, but when I asked about a peaceful dialogue they asked me how I wanted it delivered. On a bunker buster or delivered to my door by a tank.
Nancy: Murmuring
Assad:
I did thank them for the opportunity to have a meaningful dialogue, but the photo they left behind was the last straw.
Nancy: more murmuring
Assad:
See you tomorrow and I can't tell you how excited I am to be able to speak with you. Finally a voice of reason from the west.
I had the same thought, davidual. If we have an embassy, we already have Diplomatic relations.
C & L has the Lurking Shooter Video up.
Here's some eye-popping evidence of the current and recent effects of global warming:
How has climate change effected you?
By Dan Stillman
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
A February report by the International Panel on Climate Change states that "warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global mean sea level."
What Derby fails to realize is that the UK is not at war with Iran AND that it is still in dispute as to who caused this ruckus.
Posted by BlueinIdaho on April 4, 2007 at 03:45 PM
Blue, Christiana Amapour was commenting this morning, that the British remarks on the subject of Iranian vs iraqi waters is now being twisted around by them, to say things like 'they would be more careful in the future', and things like that. So Britian does not want to come out and say they were, indeed in Iranian waters, but they are alluding to that fact !
If I'm GM/Ford/Damlier or Detroit Edison, I'm busy today trying to inhale any additional pollutants that I can.
Posted by gnois on April 4, 2007 at 02:09 PM
It's 4:20 somewhere.
As much as I like Hillary Clinton I feel just as strongly against her running for President. If she wins the Democratic Party nomination we'll just hand the White House to the republicans for at least another four years. Not for nothing but the voting public is not going to go Bush, Clinton, Bush jr. the idiot and another Clinton. Too much of two families leaves a sour taste in the mouth. There are several Democratic women I'd vote for but Hillary isn't one of them because she just carries too much baggage and until recently she sounded like to much George jr. lite. Speaker Pelosi would make a much better candidate, however since she is doing such an outstanding job as Speaker of the House I feel that's where she belongs, and for hopefully a good long time. Politics is becoming a free for all for the rich and powerful leaving average citizens out of the loop and that's one more reason Hillary should stay out of this campaign because she is too entrenched in power politics.
As for the Brits getting their kids home safely, I say whatever works and doesn't touch off WW III.
In a conversation with a wingnut, he was going on about how the Iranians probably tortured a confession out of them. I had to ask, "Gee, howcumzit if they torture westerners, they only get coerced, unreliable confessions, but if we torture Middle Easterners, we get the absolute truth every time?"
I'm still waiting for an answer.
Posted by davidual on April 4, 2007 at 04:17 PM
Go figure david....we are absolutely ratshit at diplomacy now a days and for the most part the clowns in the oval don't know whether their artha or martha...
DAMASCUS, Syria (CNN) -- U.S. officials praised Syrian security forces for thwarting Tuesday's attack on the U.S. Embassy in Damascus despite the usually tense relationship with the Middle Eastern country.
http://http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/09/12/syria.embassy/
Posted by wldj on April 4, 2007 at 04:30 PM
I don't like her either and I think that there is a sizeable majority who feel the same. She is as "wet-finger" as they come. What we need is someone with the fortitude and reason of Russ Feingold.....why the hell is he not running?
Posted by HillWilliam on April 4, 2007 at 04:34 PM
I know, I know (hands in air waving)
I heard that if you wear playtex gloves and you beat the shit out of somebody it doesn't leave a bruise.
Sopranos's me thinks.
Or:
It has been reported that Iranian genetic scientists have secretly developed the ability to clone anyone and age them in approximately 8 days. These facilities are underground and housed next to their arsenal of nuclear bombs.
It is suspected that the (15) Royal Naval Marines are not the real ones and that they may be clones. Worse they have now engineered a jihadist gene and there is every chance that one of the (15) may indeed, face east, 5 times a day.
A clue to suspected Iranian genetic activity is the apparent lack of stress or any signs of mistreatment on any of the captured personnel.
Playtex gloves are also not available in Tehran.
DPD on April 4, 2007 at 04:28 PM,
Maybe Cheney had to relieve himself.
BlueinIdaho,
That link to the US embassy in Damascus didn't work, or was that your point?
The only people running for ANY office,County Commissioners, Mayors...whatever run because they can afford to! They get the money to run from their wealthy friends and represent them once in office leaving out the poor souls who can't afford the bribes. A truly populist movement is needed but I don't see it happening. The media only tells the story when you can afford the rates leaving most citizens with no real voice even in local politics. Money is not sppech I don't care what anyone says but money is the only way to get heard and that's the main problem. Get big money out of politics before we lose what little voice we now have.
Posted by BlueinIdaho on April 4, 2007 at 04:43 PM
I really respect Sen. Feingold and wish he would run. He may have issues with women and doesn't wish to be embarrassed publicly because as we all know the republicans are masters of the smear campaigns but I really don't know. I do know he's been divorced but the republicans are only concerned with the Democrats personal lives their own members are not to be critisised for their own indescretions. Pres. Clinton was called every name in the book but Bush jr. got a pass from the media even though he went AWOL. Go figure.
Posted by BlueinIdaho on April 4, 2007 at 04:43 PM
I don't trust anyone connected with Harriman S&B money. Look what S&B'ers have done in the last 6 years. I don't want another MOTS (more of the same). Just sayin'.
gnois,
Oh, I get it the kentucky.com story, posted on 1 April 2007 was a Fool's joke. Right?
Posted by davidual on April 4, 2007 at 04:48 PM
Funny it works for me. It is a bonifide embassy...albeit without an ambassador.
I hope everyone noticed my little post above (davidual on April 4, 2007 at 01:04 PM), and graciously offered the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. a moment of silence on this 39th anniversary of the day he was assassinated. Alive for 39 years, dead for 39 years, where do we go from here...follow the dream, I believe, would have been his response.
BREAKING: Bush names Swift Boat funder as ambassador.
What a jerk W is. This guy was resoundingly defeated several times by the Senate Committee, and the Little Prince still pulls this crapola.
DPD on April 4, 2007 at 05:07 PM,
Th4e decider loves confrontation. There's no denying it. He lives for confrontation. So, give him what he wants--CONFRONTATION--on every aspect of his remaining years in office.
Nancy Pelosi for Secretary of State! It seems Congress does a better job representing US, than obnoxious Redneck Republicans, who demand the Bush way. They dictate the Iraq way, never negotiating they foreign policy.
Let us have a Secretary of Congress, who goes around negotiating solutions
from salon. abramoff, a gift giver that keeps on giving:
Abramoff Associate Target of Probe
- - - - - - - - - - - -
By JOHN HEILPRIN Associated Press Writer
April 04,2007 | WASHINGTON -- pobj:DCMC105-0323071138
The head of a Republican environmental advocacy group has been told officially by federal investigators that she is a target for criminal prosecution in the Jack Abramoff corruption probe.
Italia Federici, who co-founded the group with former Interior Secretary Gale Norton and conservative GOP activist Grover Norquist, was told by the Justice Department she faces up to five charges in the influence-peddling scandal that has produced convictions against one lawmaker, two senior Bush administration officials and several congressional aides.
While running the advocacy group, the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy, Federici was involved in a romantic relationship with J. Steven Griles, who was deputy interior secretary during President Bush's first term. Griles last month became the highest-ranking Bush administration official convicted in the lobbying scandal when he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of obstructing justice by lying to the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in 2005...
Posted by DPD on April 4, 2007 at 05:07 PM
Good grief man calling Bush a jerk insults your average jerk and it's not really their fault they are jerks they were just born that way. By doing this recess appointment he is basically slapping John Kerry because this Fox helped bankroll the liars that smeared Sen. Kerry's service. Bush is incapable of having any shame for all the damaging things he has done to our country this is just the latest example. Bush is a lot worse than just a jerk he is an incompetant loser with a powerful family to hide all his high crimes and misdemeanors, at least so far. More and more citizens are seeing Bush for what he really is, A spoiled playboy unaccountable to no one because until now his family has bailed him out of all the mistakes and blunders he has and continues to make.
Can’t Discount Corporate Greed: Circuit City Axes 3,400 Workers
So now companies "At Will", will terminate in mass thousands and tomorrow hire others to replace them at minimum wages. Tell those fires they can apply in two months. I thought this was against label laws. Let us fire all our politicians and rehire them on minimum wages, so we can survive their fringe benefits.
Democratic Party silent, too afraid to stand up for American workers, and the American public. Instead they mirror themselves as Republicans hoping to join the Country Club of wealth where they are royal members. America's two classes politicians and survivors. Labor unions who will not march in front of businesses abusing its workers.
david,
No, Bush is a coward. Notice how he always has to use recess appointments? That's not confrontation.
He's a sneaky, conniving coward. And every time he does something like this, it just makes himself and all the rest of the Republicans look bad.
Bush is afraid to meet with Aysad, so he mocks Pelosi's visit.
Bush is afraid of Pelosi, so he mocks her when she's out of the country.
Apparently, he's even afraid of the Swiftboaters...so much so, that he waited till everyone left Washington to soothe Sam Fox's ruffled feathers.
There is a pattern here of Bush throwing smoke bombs when no one is looking and then running like hell. What a smuck.
He has about 20 months left inside the bubble and then he's got to come out of his bunker and join the rest of us. I guess if it gets too scary for him, he can go to Paraquay.
"It's not a civil war in Iraq. It's pure evil."
George W. Bush
He's back to arguing evil instead of facts. Actually, it's not even an argument. It's more of a raving by a lunatic who isn't getting complete adoration from his subjects or military.
America, Iraq and the Middle East may have entered a profound and historical turning point.
At this moment, the Reid-Pelosi flanking maneuver is brilliant and powerful. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) moves aggressively to turn around the military escalation, while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) moves aggressively to support Middle East peace initiatives.
Lets begin with one key point. When George Bush said yesterday that he decided to surge the troops and escalate in Iraq at the request of American commanders, he was telling a bald-faced lie.
No more niceties. This is so fundamental and important, with so many American lives at stake, that we should be crystal-clear about the truth.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff overwhelmingly advised against the surge while Bush was making the decision. The commanders in Iraq similarly, overwhelmingly, advised against the surge when Bush was making the decision. This is a matter of indisputable public record and any assertion to the contrary is a proven lie.
Period.
http://pundits.thehill.com/2007/04/04/reid-and-pelosi-have-bush-flanked/
SandyH
You got it right Bush is a coward. Going AWOL pretty much proves it and he wasn't even going to have to go to Viet Nam which proves the point! He won't even go to the opening day of baseball for fear of being booed! This from a "man" who was part-owner of a pro team, granted not much in the way of an owner since it was a small percentage of ownership. Of course that "part" was soon sold for a much greater amount than he originally put in because he screwed up the team so much they paid him off to get rid of the twit! If only we could buy him out of the job he has now just think how much better our country would be.
Good Afternoon,
Question:
Based on Newt Gingrich’s explanation that he has misspoken yesterday do you; which question represent Newt Gingrich’s persona?
Is Newt Gingrich a bigoted liar who enjoys slanderous discriminatory statement, but was caught?
Or
Does Newt Gingrich need to repeat elementary school to learn how to use English?
Posted by HybridFuel on April 4, 2007 at 06:20 PM
Hybrid,
Or
Gingrich needs to just mind his own business?
Has he ever been to a Latino community other that as a photo op? Did he bother to think about whether those countries neighboring us to the south might be offended by him suggesting that only those that speak English can succeed in this world?
The man has foot in mouth disase.
If Gingrich should somehow end up on the GOP ticket, it would seem like a blessing from heaven. But in reality, it would only be another demonstration of Republican incompetence.
For the life of me I cannot understand how people support Bush or the air-head mouth-pieces that parrot the Bush Administration's line of Bu..S..T on television. I just saw the evil kate o'bierne spout her usual idiotic nonsense on "hardball" and yet this ignorant bigoted bitch continues to be allowed access to air her incorrect, bigoted and always wrong opinion with virtually no dissenting opinions offered. What am I missing, I can't be this stupid.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff overwhelmingly advised against the surge while Bush was making the decision. The commanders in Iraq similarly, overwhelmingly, advised against the surge when Bush was making the decision. This is a matter of indisputable public record and any assertion to the contrary is a proven lie.
Period.
http://pundits.thehill.com/2007/04/04/reid-and-pelosi-have-bush-flanked/
Posted by PamB on April 4, 2007 at 06:15 PM
Bush lives for the lies he tells...and disputes any facts others use as evil or not supporting the troops or the work of terris/terris sympathizers/Islamo fascists.
He's The Decider and he'll surge in Iraq as many times as he wants even if everyone in the military said it was stupid idea. Stupid is his specialty.
Bush lives for the lies he tells...and disputes any facts others use as evil or not supporting the troops or the work of terris/terris sympathizers/Islamo fascists.
He's The Decider and he'll surge in Iraq as many times as he wants even if everyone in the military said it was stupid idea. Stupid is his specialty.
Posted by SandyH on April 4, 2007 at 06:45 PM
How can one man be SO stubbornly stupid? When the entire country, NO, the entire world thinks we need to get out of there, he refuses ! He can not honestly believe anymore that there is a happy ending for his legacy by staying there, can he? Is he THAT stupid?
Now here is a Repub who at least has some kind of an idea:
MILWAUKEE - Presidential candidate Tommy Thompson said Wednesday that he wants the Iraqi government to vote on whether the U.S. should keep its troops there.
"I'm confident they will, but ... if they do vote no — they don't want us there — we should get out," Thompson said, drawing applause
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070404/ap_on_el_pr/thompson2008
Posted by wldj on April 4, 2007 at 06:42 PM
wldj,
If you think O'Brien is pathetic, Bolton is now on Lou Dobbs...again. This doorknob has been plastered all over the media the last week or two. The MSM obviously is booking any and all GOP apologists because their owners want them to do it.
And two thirds of Americans still won't buy into this surge or antything else these snake oil salesmen/women are selling.
Posted by PamB on April 4, 2007 at 06:50 PM
I have a better idea. Why not allow the Iraqi people to vote on a referendum?
Sure Tommy wants the corrupt, bribe-ridden Iraqi Parliament to have a vote of confidence. Are they going to vote away their stability, protection, and Swiss bank accounts?
Pam the only reason I can see for Tommy to be in this race is as a Bush/Cheney mouthpiece. He's out their selling the administration while pretending to be a candidate. This ploy has Rove and Hughs written all over it. Don't ever assume they are telling the truth about anything.
Sandy, I did not NOTICE he said iraqi GOV.
Yeah, let the whole country go to the polls, and vote Yes or no if they want us out. then Bush can't say the Iraqi people want us there. OR how much good we are supposedly doing! that's bull crap ! Rebuilding a school that we bombed down is not doing good work!
Hello SandyH,
English as the only language was a platform the republicans took form the Hitler political play book. This was their platform. They should know how to use English properly and understand what they stated if this is the x-tian pug reich platform!
ABC News is reporting that we are helping a "militant" group in Pakistan to undermine the Iranian regime. Another word for "militant" in that sentence is "terrorist." As the story explains they kidnap and execute Iranian officials, as well as soldiers and border guards. Have we switched sides on the war on terror? Are we with the terrorists now?
The "war on terror" has always been a fraud. Terror is a tactic, not an enemy. And we were never fighting all of the terrorists in the world. I don't remember our offensives against the IRA or the Tamil Tigers. And we eventually started labeling almost all of our enemies as terrorists, whether they fit the definition or not.
But now this is another step. We are actively aiding and abetting militants who execute people on camera. The leader of this group, Jundullah, is a guy named Abd el Malik Regi. He is described by a senior fellow on counter-terrorism at the Nixon Center this way:
"He used to fight with the Taliban. He's part drug smuggler, part Taliban, part Sunni activist."
Lovely fellow. You know who else is known as Sunni activists? Al Qaeda. There is a secret war going on behind the scenes between the Shiites and Sunnis in the Middle East. Seymour Hersh explained it pretty well in his last article in The New Yorker. And guess whose side we're on? If you guessed Shiites, try again. No, it appears we're with the "Sunni activists."
Now, if you're thinking, wait a minute, "We're fighting the Sunnis in Iraq and Al Qaeda is Sunni." You're quite right. But here's what you didn't figure, "Saudi Arabia is Sunni and Iran is Shiite." So, who cares about Al Qaeda, let's go get those Iranians!
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/6557
Posted by wldj on April 4, 2007 at 06:42 PM
Should you really have to ask?
SHE IS PART OF THE PROBLEM, NOT THE SOLUTION!!
Her Hubby is the guy who put 24 year old ice cream vendors in charge of the Iraq Stock Exchange, based ONLY on their "Bush Loyalty".
Read Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq's Green Zone
They are ALL American Enterprise Institute/PNAC hacks and LIARS!
He can not honestly believe anymore that there is a happy ending for his legacy by staying there, can he? Is he THAT stupid?
Pam,
What really kills me is how he thinks his stupid policy is going to continue. He really seems to think that we are going to station troops in Iraq for generations and that someday he will be vindicated.
Actually, it's a little scary. Why would he think that the next president (of either party) would continue this fiasco? He's been ranting enough about the American peoples' disloyalty to his royal throne, so he must know most voters think this occupation stinks.
Or does he think he's not leaving? Is he going to declare an emergency and stop the election?
Or does he think he's put enough people in the bureaucracy that they will keep the occupation going even after he's gone?
Or does he know that the Party is going to draft Jeb and they have the voter suppression apparatus in place with the electronic voting machines programmed only to give Republicans the edge in any tight race?
Or does he know that the Party is going to draft Jeb and they have the voter suppression apparatus in place with the electronic voting machines programmed only to give Republicans the edge in any tight race?
Posted by SandyH on April 4, 2007 at 07:16 PM
I was just thinking the other day, that if Hillary does get the Dem nod, that there will not be a trick pulled around this entire country to make sure she does not waltz back into the WH.
I can see them coming out with guns if they have to to stop voters they think will vote Dem.
Going to be a bad scene.
Pam,
You saw what happened down in Florida this last election...18,000 votes just disappeared and they let that Republican's victory stand. I think that was just a test, and they have all kinds of other things like it planned in 2008.
(SNIP)
...O'Beirne's staff posed blunt questions to some candidates about domestic politics: Did you vote for George W. Bush in 2000? Do you support the way the president is fighting the war on terror? Two people who sought jobs with the U.S. occupation authority said they were even asked their views on Roe v. Wade.
Many of those chosen by O'Beirne's office to work for the Coalition Provisional Authority, which ran Iraq's government from April 2003 to June 2004, lacked vital skills and experience. A 24-year-old who had never worked in finance -- but had applied for a White House job -- was sent to reopen Baghdad's stock exchange. The daughter of a prominent neoconservative commentator and a recent graduate from an evangelical university for home-schooled children were tapped to manage Iraq's $13 billion budget, even though they didn't have a background in accounting.
There's MORE insanity in the questions. Katie-O is a PUG POS from the git-go, and should be identified as such.
Ties to GOP Trumped Know-How Among Staff Sent to Rebuild Iraq
Early U.S. Missteps in the Green Zone
SHE IS A PUG PLANT AND A BITCH POLITICAL LIAR / HACK. Why the MSM keeps putting her PURE BS on as "analysis" is beyong me. We KNOW she is a Bushie to the core.
Well, Sandy, the Dems were pretty well prepared around the country last time, and I hope they do even better this next time.
Never underestimate the level a Republican will stoop to. If you doubt it, just click into freerepublic and see the mentality of the bloggers there. There is nothing they will not do, to win. Lie, cheat, steal, intimidate, whatever.
I have recently gotten hooked on Sudoku , and think I will log off and go and challenge my winter weary brain.
blog ya all tomorrow.
Who is this 'C' Grade "spokesperson" that Tweety has on complaining about Pelosi? What ever happened to that red head Republican who was ALL over the tube for the last 2 weeks?
They are past bringing out the JV, they are going for ANYONE who can speak English. (As opposed to the alky Chimp).
Briton 'could stage another September 11'
By Toby Harnden
Last Updated: 6:50am BST 04/04/2007
The United States fears that the next September 11-style attack on America could be launched by Muslims from Britain or Europe who feel "second-class citizens" and alienated by a "colonial legacy", according to the US Homeland Security chief.
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Michael Chertoff, who arrives in Britain tomorrow for talks with John Reid, the Home Secretary, said the US was determined to build extra defences against so-called "clean skin" terrorists from Europe.
Michael Chertoff is concerned about a European threat
"We need to build layers of protection, and I don't think we totally want to rely upon the fact that a foreign government is going to know that one of their citizens is suspicious and is going to be coming here," he said.
Mr Chertoff insisted that the US required additional information, including email addresses and credit card details, to vet European passengers and rejected "the idea that we're going to bargain with the European Union over who's going to come into the United States" under the visa waiver scheme.
"We have an absolute right to get this, in the same way that if someone wants to be a guest in my house I have a right to ask them who they are and get identification."
The July 7 tube and bus bombs nearly two years ago had shown that Britain had a problem with its Muslim immigrant population that America did not share, he argued.
"Our Muslim population is better educated and economically better off than the average American. So, from a standpoint of mobility in society, it's a successful immigrant population. To some degree, the whole country is a country of immigrants, and therefore there's no sense that we have insiders or outsiders. In some countries [in Europe], you had an influx of people that came in as a colonial legacy and may have always have felt, to some extent, that they were viewed as second-class citizens, and they've tended to impact and be kind of clustered in some areas."
Mr Chertoff, a former federal prosecutor, said that one of his biggest worries was that "unknown terrorists" - such as most of the 7/7 bombers, who were British citizens with no criminal record or intelligence traces - could use the visa waiver scheme to enter and attack America.
......The mental giant Chertoff shouldn't be in any position of power especially and incredibally enough not a Cabinet level position.
"To some degree, the whole country is a country of immigrants, and therefore there's no sense that we have insiders or outsiders."
To some degree, what degree? 100% seems about right, except for our Native Americans Chertoff and his paranoid and greedy ancestors couldn't seem to murder. This Cabinet Secretary is a small minded intolerant bigot with a neocon agenda and is a biiger threat to our security than any terrorist has even conceived of doing.
CNNS' SUZANNE MALVEAUX LOSES IT
In an unprecedented personal attack while substituting for Blitzer today on The Situation Room, Suzanne Malveaux launched a rude and unprofessional attack not only on the Syrian Ambassador she was trying to make a fool of, but then in anger insulted Ms. Pelosi herself.
Malveaux blasted the Ambassador with her own angry charges that Pelosis visit to Syria could accomplish nothing and that it was purely a publicity stunt designed to "plant a big wet kiss on Asad."
How shameful and stupid she was. And it was bad behavior now becoming far too common on CNN.
Democratic leaders and the public need to call CNN and demand that Malveax apologize to Ms Pelosi and that she be removed permanently from discussing delicate International affairs on worldwide television.
This public whipping of American representatives overseas on sensitive missions by an inexperienced CNN newscaster 'emboldens the terrorists' and endangers our diplomatic efforts far more than she realizes.
And that's the reason she should be replaced. Now.
evening all,
I just heard on the Randi Rhodes that KKKarl made a speech to a "by invitation only audience" (God I hate that SOB).
After the speech as he was leaving, university students laid down in front of his limo and some pelted the limo with rocks. It was a great demonstration against that ahole.
I heard that the ahole chimp sent bolton the asshole to the Middle East. I thought that bastard was fired.
SandyH on April 4, 2007 at 05:50 PM,
GW is a chicken hawk, for sure, but what I was inferring was his desire to provoke confrontation, and then he sits back and allows someone else handle the situation. He has always done this. Call it his irresponsibility, but he finds pleasure with stirring up the proverbial hornets nest, so he can be amused by the ensuing confrontation. Just another dichotomy of a tyrant, that is, finding pleasure through causing pain.
This Cabinet Secretary is a small minded intolerant bigot with a neocon agenda and is a biiger threat to our security than any terrorist has even conceived of doing.
Posted by wldj on April 4, 2007 at 07:51 PM
They all are, wldj.
Secretary Rice has really been out-shined by Speaker Pelosi diplomatic mission to Syria. I wouldn't be surprised if Rice hadn't requested a meeting with President Assad herself and he told her to take her piano act to a Las Vegas lounge.
I wonder what Bush will do in retaliation? Nobody treats his other wife that way and gets away with it.
SandyH on April 4, 2007 at 08:36 PM,
Maybe he'll do something really confrontational, like appoint Samuel Fox as ambassador to Belgium, or veto the Iraq Supplementary Appropriations bill, or...you get the picture.
Posted by SandyH on April 4, 2007 at 06:58 PM
Thompson is not a bush shill...i know for a fact.
Boinky on April 4, 2007 at 08:41 PM,
Your place is in a home, you know, a home for the mentally displaced.
Posted by hazmaq on April 4, 2007 at 08:00 PM
here, here. that was so out of line...off the chain!
They got nuttin'. Period. So just start the LIES and feel assured that the incredibly gullible will still say 'Duh" with their gape mouthed, slack jawed, blank stare as they listen to Flush.
Creating their own reality
I guess Oxy-Contin induced hearing loss would be a blessing, if you are a Pug 28%er. It's less physically demanding than putting their fingers in their ears and saying "LALALALALALALALA".
Hey Dems:
I'm still worried about our stance with regard to Iraq War Funding. I think if Bush vetos our funding with a timeline, we should quickly try to override his veto and fund the troops with the timeline. In the event we are unable to override his veto, I think we should quickly fund the troops without a time line. The money Bush requested will probably run-out by the summer of 2008, we can have another go at it at that point. Perhaps we could still end the Iraq War by August or September of 2008 or shortly thereafter. By that time, more pressure will be on Republicans in Congress to vote for a timeline and perhaps then we could override Bush in the event he vetoed the bill.
I think our current response that we will DEFUND the war if Bush vetoes the funding is an ill-considered stance. Practically speaking, we don't have the votes to pass legislation defunding the war. We could tie up funding for the War and not get anything done, but that is not a good manner in which to govern. Also, even if we managed to cut funding, I believe President Bush would leave the troops in Iraq without proper equipment. I think pundits who have made comments such as "any commander and chief who respects the constitution would bring the troops home once funding is cut," do not understand President Bush. President Bush doesn't care about the Constitution. He doesn't care about whether the troops have equipment. He only cares about making Democrats look bad. Let's not forget, this is the man attempted to use 911 to destroy the democratic party and create a one party state.
I believe our stance is also politically ill-considered. The American people do not want the troops placed in the middle of this argument. Make no mistake, if we cut off funding, the media and the President will make sure the troops are placed in the middle of it. The American people want us to work together to end the war. If we ignore this, the American people will not support us. I understand the Republicans are not currently willing to work with us to end the war. This means we will have to be patient and provide them with multiple chances to work with us.
For the foregoing reasons, I hope that if Bush vetos our final funding bill that contains a timeline and we cannot muster a supermajority to override his veto, that we fund the war without a timeline. We can take this action knowing it will be temporary.
Paddy,
Rachael Maddow had that story out yesterday, and announced that she contacted Hatch's staffers 3 or 4 times. No response, nothing....
As long as the American people continue to watch, and lies are tolerated
ahem...
good stuff on O'Byrne. she is a disgrace. to women, to thinking people and to hairdressers everywhere...what is up with the blonde thing for these old republic women?
fade2bluz on April 4, 2007 at 08:50 PM,
Hi, fade!
Huh?
DPD on April 4, 2007 at 08:50 PM,
Oxycontin causes hearing loss? Well, it also saves them from looking as asinine as they are!!
Good eveing all (except the trolls of course):
Creating their own reality
by kos
Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 04:15:55 PM PDT
Damn, it's amazing how the wingers will just make shit up to keep their own little fake world intact.
In this edition, Sen. Orrin Hatch and Rush Limbaugh claim that fired US Attorney Carol Lam was 1) just a law professor with 2) no prosecutorial assistance, 3) appointed by President Clinton, because 4) she was Bill's former campaign manager in Southern California.
The only problem is that 1) Lam was never a law professor, 2) had 15 years of prosecutorial assistance, 3) was appointed by Bush and 4) never worked as a campaign manager.
But what's a little lying if it helps smear someone (even if she is a Republican) who would dare question Dear Leader.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/4/4/141846/3738
****
Conservatives all suck. Orrin Hatch is one of the worst. And what can I say about rush limpballs the drug fiend that hasn't been said before.
Four Things Bush Doesn't Want You To Know About Pelosi's Syria Visit
by Phoenix Woman
Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 09:37:31 AM PDT
Four things Bush doesn't want you to know about Nancy Pelosi's Syria visit:
The Israelis are GLAD she’s there.
Far from her trying to hurt Israel or the US (as Bush implies), The Israelis think so much of her that they are using her as a trusted go-between from Israel to Syria.
There are three Republican Congressmen in Syria meeting with Assad RIGHT NOW.
The three Republican Congressmen, including Joe Pitts (R-PA) are in Syria ON BUSH’S ORDERS (or least with his OK).
Please spread the word. Thanks.
****
Bush is a total conservative loser. He is a fine example of the losing destructive conservative movement.
Impeach Da Chimp
Thompson is not a bush shill...i know for a fact.
fade, Thompson really wanted the Dep't of Transportation job. He was a BIG believer in high speed rail (he was on the Amtrak board) and also not too keen on highway funding as the ONLY choice. He wanted the return of inter-urban rail lines, bio fuels, solar powered electric trains, etc. Shrub put him in a Department he had ZERO interest in, and he was surrounded by a bunch of lobbyists who basically ruled the roost.
The next DEM (that's inevitable) President would be wise to approach him for the Trans job. Hillary for Health and Human Services, Kucinich for Housing and Urban Development, Gore for Energy, Kerry for State, Richardson back to Energy or Interior........
WE have an embarrassment of riches! ANY one of these people will be better than the "best" the Pugs can come up with, and ANY combination of ANY 2 would be a dream team. The Cabinet is already walking around out there, and has been pre-vetted.
Hi Kev,
we'll see what happens...
Waxman never sleeps.
he's digging into those gw43 emails, as we speak, bud
a lot of this swagger will disappear in the coming days and weeks. have you seen what happened at the rug bazaar since John McCain staged his photo op?
the price of oil dropped a buck a barrel minutes after Iran made their announcement.
Pelsoi's trip...more Abramoff scandal unfolding, Hatch lying about Lam...and the Democrats have raised more money in this stage than republics.
things have definitely changed, since a woman's place in the house was finally made a reality.
go madam speaker!! this woman is a real leader
good stuff on O'Byrne.
*****
Not that one again, Kato Burn-It-Up. She is a conservative moron ... like the rest of the conservative morons.
and i agree with you 100% on the cabinet
and on your Thompson bio
he said, "i sez" Sunday, too...a cheezhead, no doubt
evening rjsnj,
I have hated hatch for years. He always votes against the will of the American people. I don't think he has voted yes on any bill that helped middle class American or the poor. He is such a miserly SOB and pseudo-religious.
I'm still worried about our stance with regard to Iraq War Funding. I think if Bush vetos our funding with a timeline, we should quickly try to override his veto and fund the troops with the timeline.
****
Kev,
I am not at all worried. Bush vetoes it send the same bill back again and again and again ...
Waxman kicking more Pug conservative behinds:
Waxman Says: Give Us the RNC Emails
by emptywheel
Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 10:08:19 AM PDT
Hey, whose job was it to tell Henry Waxman that he's supposed to be on recess this week? Because he's still churning out letters, closing in on Republican chicanery. This one is a request to the head of the RNC, Mike Duncan, for any emails relating to the political "team building" events Karl Rove has been doing on the public dime (no link yet--will update with it later):
emptywheel's diary :: ::
I am writing to request e-mail communications stored on Republican National Committee servers that relate to the use of federal agencies and federal resources for partisan political purposes.
Last week, the Committee held a hearing into allegations of misconduct at the General Services Administration. One of the issues examined at the hearing involved a partisan political presentation that White House Deputy Director of Political Affairs, J. Scott Jennings, made to the GSA Administrator, Lurita A. Doan, and approximately 40 GSA appointees in the GSA headquarters building on January 26, 2007.
[snip]
In communicating with GSA about the presentation, Mr. Jennings and his assistant used "gwb43.com" e-mail accounts maintained by the RNC rather than their official White House e-mail accounts. In their e-mails, they described the presentation as a "close hold" and said that "we're not supposed to be emailing it around.
Hi Dave! i noticed that today was the day, but didn't realize the 39 years both ways thingie..
i agree that he would say follow the dream. and he definitely left the light on
...since a woman's place in the house was finally made a reality.
go madam speaker!! this woman is a real leader
Posted by fade2bluz on April 4, 2007 at 09:07 PM
Fade,
I missed that one, damn, nice analogy!
I don't think he has voted yes on any bill that helped middle class American or the poor. He is such a miserly SOB and pseudo-religious.
****
Hi John,
Hatch is one of the worst conservative PIGS in the Senate. He actually got red in the face when the Democrats revoked the tax subsidies for oil companies. Send a case of Castro GT out to Orrin for that little performance.
Does everyone here know that Sept. 11th was most likely an inside job. And what do you propose that we do about it? T
****
Impeaching Bush and Cheney works for me.
April 28th - a day of impeachment:
Boinky on April 4, 2007 at 08:41 PM,
Your place is in a home, you know, a home for the mentally displaced.
****
LOL
Oinky Boinky ... the GOP PIG man.
Swift Boat Donor Sam Fox is a recess appointment.
by calipygian
Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 01:47:44 PM PDT
Another day, another atrocity:
President Bush named Republican fundraiser Sam Fox as U.S. ambassador to Belgium on Wednesday, using a maneuver that allowed him to bypass Congress where Democrats had derailed Fox's nomination.
And the hits just keep on coming:
calipygian's diary :: ::
Bush also used his recess appointment authority to make Andrew Biggs deputy director of Social Security. The president's earlier nomination of Biggs, an outspoken advocate of partially privatizing the government's retirement program, was rejected by Senate Democrats in February.
And according to K-Lo at NRO, there are even more:
Susan E. Dudley, of Virginia, to be Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget
Sam Fox, of Missouri, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Belgium
Carol Waller Pope, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Federal Labor Relations Authority
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/4/4/155054/9653
****
Bush is a fine example of a conservative PIG. A thug through and through like all conservatives.
McCain...@sshole!
Lorry bomb kills children in school
James Hider in Baghdad
A newborn baby was one of at least 14 children and adults killed when a suicide bomber detonated a lorry laden with explosives close to a primary school in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk yesterday.
The latest massacre of Iraqi children came as 21 Shia market workers were ambushed, bound and shot dead north of the capital. The victims came from the Baghdad market visited the previous day by John McCain, the US presidential candidate, who said that an American security plan in the capital was starting to show signs of progress.
The Kirkuk bloodshed erupted when a bomber driving a truck full of explosives hidden by sacks of flour targeted an Iraqi police station that US soldiers were visiting. The full force of the blast hit a nearby primary school.
Buthayna Mahmud, 10, was horrified to see the bodies of her classmates strewn on the ground in flames. “Everyone I saw was wearing the blue school uniform drenched with blood. Some of their dresses were torn. I only saw fire. I heard teachers and students shouting,” she said. “When we rushed out of the school, we saw pupils on the ground, some of them burning.”
“We were at the last lesson and we heard the explosion. I saw two of my classmates sitting near the window. They fell on the floor, drenched in blood,” said Naz Omar, a girl in the fifth form. “They could not speak. I was terrified. I said, ‘God is Great. I need my mother. I need my father’.”
Did popping painkillers make Rush lose his hearing?
See: Hearing problems
Yepper, davidual, Oxy poppin' really DOES make people go deaf.
Posted by rjsnj on April 4, 2007 at 09:18 PM
i was in Belgium during the Viet Nam war. those folks will give Same a "welcome" he'll never forget
"Rep. Tom Lantos (news, bio, voting record), the head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee who was in Pelosi's delegation, said the meeting "reinforced sharply" the potential benefits of talking to Syria.
****
Hi Pam,
Bush is a conservative loser. The conservatives don't understand diplomacy. All they know how to do is start wars that are total disasters, spend money uselessly for their profiteer cronies and payoffs for their corrupt lobbyists such as Abramoff.
The conservatives are also complete phonies. They whined about Pelosi's trip ... meanwhile just a week before a group of GOOPERS went to Syria.
Boo, Hoo, Hoo Bush ... Pelosi is just more popular and credible than you. President Pelosi beat out presidunce bush dog and he can't stand it! Boo, Hoo, Hoo ... cry me a GOOPER river.
Lorry bomb kills children in school
James Hider in Baghdad
****
fade, that picture of McWindVane with the armed convoy was priceless. Here's this phoney dickhead conservative saying that Baghdad is so safe that you can go anywhere walking around with a armed company in tow ... he even had support from attack helicopters above.
McWindVane is finished as is Big Joe Weaselman. This will be the last term for each of them.
...since a woman's place in the house was finally made a reality. go madam speaker!! this woman is a real leader
****
Darn right.
President Pelosi
Presidunce Bush
Boinky on April 4, 2007 at 09:08 PM,
Was that a self-examination/actualization post, and now you expect us to verify your results?
Unpacking Bush
by kos
Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 12:12:10 PM PDT
Froomkin:
"The bottom line is this," Bush said. "Congress's failure to fund our troops on the front lines will mean that some of our military families could wait longer for their loved ones to return from the front lines. And others could see their loved ones headed back to the war earlier than they need to. That is unacceptable to me, and I believe it is unacceptable to the American people."
There's so much to unpack just in that one paragraph alone. For one, strictly speaking it's not Congress that would be failing to fund the troops, it would be Bush's veto. Bush of course has promised to veto the bill precisely because it requires him to withdraw troops sooner than he wants, not later. And the American public is overwhelmingly in favor of such a withdrawal.
Now if he can unpack why Cheney was lurking in the bushes when Bush said this, Froomkin will deserve a Pulitzer.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/4/4/15811/48567
****
Cheney lurking in the Bushes ... must be looking for a shrub!
What's Cheney doing out of his coffin during the day time?
BBL
BBL
Dowd: POS, still...don't be fooled
Dowd packaged his vicious tactics as nothing more than the application of basic advertising technique. His slicing and dicing of wedge issues was no such thing, he explained. He was, he said, just creating a new Republican "brand." After Rove executed Dowd's carefully calculated targeting to produce Bush's narrow victory in 2004, Dowd was triumphant. "Issues don't matter in presidential campaigns," he exulted in 2005, "it's your brand values that matter." For Dowd, facts didn't matter either, only "brand" identity.
Contaminating his rival's brand was as vital as enhancing his own. Dowd had been central in formulating the 2002 midterm campaign that zeroed in on the Democrats' patriotism. In 2004, he and Rove crafted the negative attack on Kerry as a "flip-flopper." Asked about the TV ads ripping Kerry, Dowd said on Sept. 22, 2004, on CNN, "I think it's totally tasteful. And the American public is going to be fine with it." He also blithely defended the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth defamation of Kerry's sterling Vietnam War record. "I think the Swift boat ads were part of that dialogue," he said in a 2005 PBS "Frontline" documentary, "but it was more important in that they pointed out something about John Kerry, which is, all this guy's talking about is his Vietnam record. What does that have to do with the war on terror?"
Dowd believed he was designing a permanent Republican majority, but, working alongside Rove, his short-term winning tactics built enormous pressure that produced an implosion. During the 2006 midterm campaign that lost the Republicans control of Congress, Dowd worked as a consultant for California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican running as a virtual liberal Democrat. "I think we should design campaigns that appeal not to 51 percent of the people," Dowd told the Times, "but bring the country together as a whole."
But Dowd neither detailed nor did the Times mention his consulting work in the campaign last year of Richard DeVos, billionaire heir of the Amway fortune, for governor of Michigan. DeVos is a zealous follower of and major donor to the most extreme organizations of the religious right. His campaign against incumbent Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm was marked by nasty ads falsely stating: "Under Governor Granholm's administration, you can stay on welfare as long as you want." These weren't a new paradigm but old racial code words.
he's a family friend
Posted by fade2bluz on April 4, 2007 at 09:07 PM
~~~~~~~~
If you're talking about Tommy, lucky you. His "Invest in Wisconsin" ads cracked me up. As we were traveling south on I94 heading home from another weekend trip to Lake Geneva or somewhere, he had billboards up just before the State line that said "Governor Thompson wants you to move your business to Wisconsin".
(Of course, the Gov of Illinois for about 2 thousand years was internationally famous JIM Thompson, and this new guy Tommy Thompson wasn't even a footnote at that time, but it was nice to see one Pug tweak another without getting nasty.)
Orangutan on April 4, 2007 at 09:14 PM,
I share your frustration that the WTC disaster was either allowed to happened, or actually assisted from within a shadow government of the United States. However, as with John F. Kennedy's assassination, there isn't much legally we can do about it; frustrating as that is.
One thing that can be done is for all American citizens to take a much more active awareness of our government.
:IMHO:
bbl--Full House
when i was a kid i used to listen to jean shepherd on a.m. radio in new york by putting a transistor radio under my pillow as i was supposed to be asleep when he was on. he told great stories of growing up in indiana. one of his stories was made into the "christmas story" movie about the kid who wanted a bb gun. sadly the guy who made the movie and his son were killed by a drunken driver out in l.a. today.
'Christmas Story' Director Dies in Crash
- - - - - - - - - - - -
By JEREMIAH MARQUEZ Associated Press Writer
April 04,2007 | LOS ANGELES -- Film director Robert Clark, best known for the holiday classic "A Christmas Story," was killed with his son Wednesday in a head-on crash with a vehicle steered into the wrong lane by a drunken driver, police and the filmmaker's assistant said.
Syria: We Helped in Iran-Britain Dispute
- - - - - - - - - - - -
April 04,2007 | DAMASCUS, Syria -- Syria played a key role in resolving the standoff over the 15 British sailors and marines held by Iran, two government officials said Wednesday.
"Syrian efforts and the Iranian willingness culminated with the release of the British sailors," said Information Minister Mohsen Bilal.
He said Syria had been asked "to help positively in the issue of British" crew members since their March 23 seizure by Iran in the Persian Gulf.
He did not elaborate.
Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem told reporters that "Syria exercised a sort of quiet diplomacy to solve this problem and encourage dialogue" between Britain and Iran.
Al-Moallem, who also did not give any details on the Syrian mediation, spoke at Damascus international airport before the departure of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for Saudi Arabia.
Syria has long been the Arab country with the closest ties to Iran, a non-Arab state. The two have moved toward each other as they were shunned by the United States and the European Union for their alleged interference in Iraq and Lebanon, and their support of Palestinian militant groups regarded as terrorist in the West.
could be the grown ups are standing up to be counted. from salon:
3 Republicans Part With Bush on Syria
- - - - - - - - - - - -
By BEN EVANS Associated Press Writer
April 04,2007 | WASHINGTON -- Three Republican congressmen who parted with President Bush by meeting with Syrian leaders said Wednesday it is important to maintain a dialogue with a country the White House says sponsors terrorism.
"I don't care what the administration says on this. You've got to do what you think is in the best interest of your country," said Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va. "I want us to be successful in Iraq. I want us to clamp down on Hezbollah."
Washington accuses Syria of backing Hamas and Hezbollah, two groups it deems terrorist organizations. The Bush administration also says Syria is contributing to the violence in Iraq by allowing Sunni insurgents to operate from its territory and is destabilizing Lebanon's government.
Bush sharply criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., for leading a delegation to meet with Syria's president, Bashar Assad.
The White House, however, stayed relatively quiet about a similar trip just a few days earlier by Wolf and GOP Reps. Robert Aderholt of Alabama and Joseph Pitts of Pennsylvania.
Returning on Wednesday, the lawmakers said they made clear to Assad that they support Bush and were not representing the administration. But they said they felt it was important to keep open lines of communication.
"This is an area where we would disagree with the administration," Aderholt said. "None of us in the Congress work for the president. We have to cast our own votes and ultimately answer to our own constituents. ... I think there's room that we can try to work with them as long as they know where we draw the line."
A White House spokesman, Alex Conant, said the administration tries to deter lawmakers from both parties from engaging Assad.
"We discourage all visits to Syria because it's a state sponsor of terror," he said. "A lot of officials have gone, and it hasn't changed the Syrians' behavior."
bush is making his silly recess appointments like the spoiled child that he is. who cares none of these turkeys will have any power at all with a democratic congress examining their every move as bush becomes more and more of a laughing stock and isolated quack.
Attorneys for Gonzales Aide Criticize Congressional Democrats
By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 4, 2007; 3:56 PM
Attorneys for Monica M. Goodling, a senior aide to Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, fired back at House and Senate Democrats today, reiterating her intent not to cooperate with a probe into the firing of eight federal prosecutors and comparing lawmakers pursuing her to the Cold War ideologue, former senator Joseph McCarthy.
these clowns are getting really hysterical. so bring the justice department twit before the senate and have her plead the fifth...i just want to savor the moment....joe mccarthy....now the republicans are dissing joe mccarthy? he is one of the right wing's heroes...next they'll be swift boating ollie north...this shit gets funnier every day. and bush is looking alot like charlie mccarthy...
joe mccarthy teaches a young george w bush to act like charlie mccarthy...from the "wooden headed rich boy's adventure" series
maybe another Webb-style candidate?
A fired U.S. Attorney is "striking back" at the Bush administration for what he feels is his improper dismissal, Newsweek reports.
"The Justice Department called David Iglesias, the U.S. attorney in New Mexico, an 'absentee landlord' -- a key reason listed for his firing last December," write Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball for Newsweek. "Just one problem: Iglesias, a captain in the Navy Reserve, was off teaching classes as part of the war on terror."
Liberal group targets GOP vulnerables
By Elana Schor
April 04, 2007
A liberal-leaning coalition formed to prod lawmakers on withdrawal from Iraq kicks off an advertising and grassroots campaign today, aiming more at forcing Republicans to break from President Bush than at gaining support for the contentious war supplemental.
The anti-war coalition will turn its fire from Kentucky, where Americans United for Change continues its $200,000 ad buy blasting Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R), to Maine and New Hampshire, home of GOP Sens. Susan Collins and John Sununu. Both Collins and Sununu face reelection challenges next year in blue states where voter frustration runs high.
The ad buys in the New England states, topping the McConnell push’s price tag, will “call on [Collins and Sununu], when they have another opportunity, to vote to end the war in Iraq … and make sure the Bush administration is held accountable in the process,” Americans United President Brad Woodhouse said yesterday.
(nicely done.)
Fair and Balanced
(Watch the "news" anchors tap dance faster than that "Lord of the Dance" freak of nature.)
"But, you can still Freep the poll...heh, heh..."
okay kids,
early meeting in the morning. love the vibes. change is in the air.
and the blowup doll is hissing ...so when it inevitably returns...
ignore. it's only sally imploding...
but always, keep it lit~
Read the links. Even the TAX EXEMPT Insurance Industry is worried about Global Warming.
Insurance losses to skyrocket with global warming.
To steal a line from John Prine, this is "Like a Nun with her head in the oven".
Yepper, davidual, Oxy poppin' really DOES make people go deaf.
Posted by DPD on April 4, 2007 at 09:19 PM
I thought it grew hair on you palms. Oh wait, something else does that. I wonder if limpballs has checked his palms lately.
Posted by Johnedwrd on April 4, 2007 at 10:29 PM
No, he just goes on secret private plane excursions to that well known child sex trading Island of Hispaniola with an illegal bottle of Viagra on what HE, HIMSELF has said was a "boys only " trip.
Hmmmm, whatever could THAT mean?
Hey, It looks like Fatty Asstart is a Commie!
FLASHBACK: Hastert Traveled Abroad, Told Foreign Leaders Not To Listen To Clinton
The HORROR of Pelosi talking to a GOVERNMENT of a COUNTRY in which WE maintain an EMBASSY!!! She should have done it on the sly, like Asstart dealing with drug runners and dictators.
HEY, Guess what? Once again, it's been PROVEN that Drudge Ain't Honest! (Make sure to click on the links).
Gee, this is the SECOND time in less than 48 hours that he has been PROVEN to be just pulling stuff out of his a**.
I just googled Hatch. I had a busy day at work and missed the story. Did Hatch involve himself in the U.S. Attorney Scandal?
Regarding Hatch,
Yeah he is full of it. I just found the story.
Arctic Sea Ice near record low -- another sign of global warming
Hey Dems,
David Iglesias is a U.S. attorney who was supposedly dismissed because of absences related training foreign military officials to help fight the "war on terror." It turns out his dismissal may have violated laws prohibiting employers from discriminating against employees because they are members of the U.S. military.
Not to mention they are the BIGGEST backers of the Boy Scouts and have the world's largest genealogy data bank. They can trace anybody back a thousand years. Plus, they wear Magic Underwear. Kinda Harry Potterish, if ya ask me.
I think people are just about sick and tired of these clowns using religion as a political tool.
The Country wants CHANGE from the FAILED REPUBLICAN POLICIES, and won't give a rat's ass whether someone is a Baptist or a Buddhist. At this point Fuhrer Failure has damaged the "Republican" brand so much that in 2006 MOST (if not all) of the Pugs refused to be seen with him, and MOST (if not all) didn't even put the word "Republican" on their campaign literature or web sites, and the ones who at one time proudly had pictures of them with the Chimp, suddenly air brushed ANY visual association, like Pravda used to do.
Chimpy is THE biggest gift that keeps on giving for ALL Freedom Loving Americans. After they implode in 2008, I hope the Pugs just turn to dust and blow away.
from your fingers to the Buddhas smile dpd...see you in the morning.
Hey, Golly Jeepers, look who's visiting (S)yria!
Is W a Hip-
O-
Kritt?
Why, YES, Little Johnny. Bush IS a Big Ol' Hypocrite! We also call that LYING!
Gee, thanks, Unca Ducky.
OK, I know nobody is on here right now, but all you'se West Coast lurkers, check out South Park RIPPING that moron Bill Donohue about what being a "Christian" is all about.
Evening, late again,
Didn't see anything about this here, sorry if I missed it. How big is this company, and why are they moving in with armor? Who's watching the store?
Massive security contractor faces growing protest in rural California town over 824-acre base
Miriam Raftery and Muriel Kane
Published: Tuesday April 3, 2007
SAN DIEGO -- Potrero, California boasts a broad swath of meadowland that currently houses derelict chicken coops.
Surrounded by the Cleveland National Forest, the property boasts a former chicken ranch and includes an environmentally sensitive, protected agricultural preserve southeast of San Diego.
But if private security contractor Blackwater USA gets its way, this 850-strong community will soon host an 824-acre military training base, replacing the erstwhile chicken ranch with fifteen firing ranges and an emergency vehicle operator’s course the length of ten football fields.
A RAW STORY investigation has already led to the removal of one lawyer connected to the project. The inquiry has also discovered that California congressman and current presidential candidate Duncan Hunter -- who is the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee -- is a client of the firm, Blackwater USA, a massive US security contractor in Iraq.
*****
Residents also raise concerns over the role of San Diego County officials in expediting the project. An article in the San Diego Reader concluded that Potrero residents are being "ambushed" by "county bureaucrats marching alongside Blackwater USA."
Documents filed with the county indicate Blackwater officials have been meeting privately with Department of Planning and Land Use personnel since at least May of 2006. Members of the public in Potrero did not learn of the proposed project until Oct. 12 at the earliest. One whistleblower contends that failure to notify the public until late in the planning process may violate the California Environmental Quality Act; others allege that County planners may have violated the Brown Act, which mandates open meetings.
Environmentalist Duncan McFetridge questions why residents weren’t included in early planning.
"It is as close to collusion as you can get without actually being illegal,” McFetridge says. “I am convinced that one of the main reasons that Blackwater came to San Diego is that we are the capital of privatization where lines between private and public sectors is a total blur."
“In San Diego we don't have revolving doors,” he added, “we have tunnels between politicians and profiteers."
rawstory.com/news/2007/Massive_security_contractor_faces_growing_protest_0403.html
And Ron Brown, And Dorothy Hunt
The quick plan is to buy 2 airline tickets on different carriers, and then take the train. There is no telling what these Junior Nazis who took over the Pug Party will do.
Friday, March 30th, 2007
Understanding How Good People Turn Evil: Renowned Psychologist Philip Zimbardo On his Landmark Stanford Prison Experiment, Abu Ghraib and More
*****
And what we wanted to do was create essential psychology of imprisonment, and that’s all about power. Every prison is about power. Guards have to assume more and more power and domination, and prisoners have to have their power stripped away. And so that is the ultimate evil of prison. It's all about power, dominance, and mastery. And that was the same thing we found in Abu Ghraib prison.
But also -- so the way that power evolves is, the prisoners have to be ultimately dehumanized. You have to think of them as not your kind, not your kin, as -- ultimately you end up thinking of them as animals. And the guards have to be impersonal, distant. Whatever humanity they have when they are home, when they are with their families, that has to be suspended, put on a hook. Because, what they have to do is treat other people in ways that they don't treat anyone else, those are the people being prisoners.
And so, we're talking about playing a role, anonymity, dehumanization, and then of course there's things like being a team member, the guards have to develop a sense of camaraderie. Most of the evil of the world comes about not out of evil motives, but somebody saying get with the program, be a team player, this is what we saw at Enron, this is what we saw in the Nixon administration with their scandal. And I think you are seeing it now, with the current administration.
So, it's that set of social psychological variables. Oh, the key one is of course diffusion of responsibility. When a person feels, I am not personally responsible, I am not accountable, it's the role I’m playing or these are the orders I’ve gotten, then you allow yourself to do things you would never do under ordinary circumstances.
*****
When we can pay mercenaries to torture and kill people we consider less than human because they are termed "enemies" we have lost our moral footing and indeed our humanity.
good morning friends and neighbors. newt is already apologizing for being the idiot that he is and he hasn't even announced a presidential candidacy. attached to this story is a very funny clip of him talking in spanish that reminds me of studying french back when i was in high school in the sixties. i would be in my parents damp basement with a record player and these weird 45 rpm a-lm records that would tell you something like "oue est la bibliotheque" and you would repeat it and so on....sounds like newt pulled out his set of spanish ones to get ready for this performance ( by the way i still want to hear the story of how his geometry teacher became his first wife ):
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is trying to assuage Latinos over recent comments on bilingual education by delivering a video statement -- in Spanish and English -- in which he concedes his word choice was "poor."
In the statement, posted Wednesday on YouTube, Gingrich said his comments were not an "attack" on Spanish, and he revealed he has been taking Spanish lessons "for some time now."
cinco denewto
Good Morning Good Dem's....I see that "Boinker Man" from Armpitt, MN was with us last night....all of his inane comments will be washed away soon enough....
Fade...I've been missing you but you and your Dad are not out of my thoughts....hope all is well with you...have a good day....Later....John Boy.....
Good Morning Gregg,...Newt is a real bag of garbage....Right after his "Contract with America" song and dance, as Speaker, he started givrng out 50 million of ear marks to Repigs in weak districts if they voted the right way....He's a criminal piece of trash....John Boy....
what is up with the blonde thing for these old republic women?
Posted by fade2bluz on April 4, 2007 at 08:58 PM
now, now. ;)
Posted by PamB on April 4, 2007 at 07:20 PM
It's up to us to make sure the voters in our precinct/county are informed of their rights and the [election] laws.
morning gregg and JohnBoy,
Posted by DPD on April 4, 2007 at 11:56 PM
The Senate or Congress should immediately pull the television broadcast licenses of CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX.
These are OUR airwaves and WE should have a say in who uses them. If they misuse these airwaves, WE pull their licenses.
These networks are a shill for the Republic party and do not report any news that does not support the bastards in the White House.
I heard an interesting bit of news this morning as I awoke. My local radio station broadcast the fact that Bill Richardson is going back to North Korea to talk with their leader. He is also going to meet with them in the interest of bringing back some more MIA's from the Korean War. Very commendable.
Just as I was going to sleep last night I caught the last few minutes of michael savage. He was ranting about North Korea and was saying that we should bomb the crap out of their rocket launching facilities. This guy is totally insane.
He hates both bush and the Democrats and is going off on some tangent. He has to be totally insane.
Posted by PamB on April 4, 2007 at 07:08 PM
You all are always on top of the news! Oh well, I reposted the same info.
john, savage is really nuts. i listen to him when driving sometimes for laughs...sick laughs but laughs...he was or is some sort of health food/ supplement barker in addition to advocating for a nuclear holocaust. who the hell decides this is a good person to have on the air over at ny abc??
Essie,
You know your like cleaning names from the voter rolls better than houses.
Posted by SandyH on April 4, 2007 at 03:37 PM
I send them a notice with a timeline before I scrub them. ;) NCOA begins right after our May Primary...about 5,000 voters will be contacted.
savage is a graduate of Berkeley. Berkeley produced a whole lot of radicals on both sides of the fence.
kkkarl's dance routine reminds me of Adolf Hitler's dance after he came to power in Germany in 1934 and after he conquered France in 1940. Maybe KKKarl learned it from watching Hitler movies. He is probably giving lessons to bush.
mc KKKarl
bush and his gang have organized a secret army in Pakistan to make forays into Iran and start a war. It seems to me the repigs did the same thing when we were secretly fighting the Russian occupation of Afghanistan. In that case we backed the bush family's old buddy bin sleepin.
IMPEACH BUSH AND CHENEY NOW!!!!!!!!!!!
chimp's secret war
Good morning, all.
The is a new Thursday Open Thread.
* * * * * * *
ACTION ITEM (see PamB I can do this!)
Contact your Congresscritters about the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. It is scheduled for introduction in the Senate April 12th and the House around April 23rd.
Callie, Just want you to know that I for one did this a few days ago. Hope the rest of you did too. That will be in the Senate next week!
The Secret War Against Iran
Esmeralda on April 5, 2007 at 08:05 AM,
The money? Is that what happened to that $8 billion of palletized, shrink-wrapped undocumented U.S.cold hard cash that was lost in Iraq?
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