Kicking Ass: The Democratic Party's Blog

Saturday Open Thread

Posted by Michael Link on December 29, 2007 at 08:43 AM

Chat away...

Comments (251) «

good morning dems: Its cold in Texas, but its a pretty day. I'm here at work hoping for a slow day, guess it will be decided by those people who will do stupid things and get hurt. Hoping everyone stays inside a watches football today.

1
connfloyd on December 29, 2007 at 09:03 AM


Bin Laden Killed Bhutto? How Blind Can We Be?


The shorthand being bandied about in the news that al-Qaeda is responsible for the assassination of Benazir Bhutto is so sloppy, so lacking in nuance or understanding of the dynamics of Pakistan, and so self-centered in its reference to America's enemy as to be almost laughable.


Several U.S. defense and intelligence experts are quoted today dismissing even the possibility that President Pervez Musharraf, Pakistani government forces, or other domestic elements could be involved, a conclusion that flies in the face of the country's history and ignores the obvious beneficiaries.


http://blog.washingtonpost.com/earlywarning/2007/12/bin_laden_killed_bhutto_how_bl.html#more

and if it WERE true, why isn't there an uproar about WHY Bin Laden is still happy, healthy and ordered deaths???? Why is Bush such a Failure?

2
PamB on December 29, 2007 at 09:05 AM

NY Congresswoman Gillibrand will give the Democratic radio address today. Gregg worked very hard to get her elected last year. Here's a excerpt:

"This new Congress has a vision for change that we have begun, step by step, to realize. We see a nation free from dependence on foreign oil, which will strengthen our economy by growing our agricultural and manufacturing base through an investment in renewable fuels and new energy efficient products. This makes America safer, grows American jobs, and begins to address global warming."

http://timesunion.com:80/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=650857&category=&BCCode=&newsdate=12/28/2007

3
Cyn_NY on December 29, 2007 at 09:12 AM

Looks like not ALL Military personnel are brainwashed, Bush boot lickers !!

Navy JAG Andrew Williams Resigns Over Torture

Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Williams, a JAG officer with the U.S. Naval Reserve, recently resigned his commission over the alleged use of torture by the United States and the destruction of video tapes said to contain instances of that torture.

As ThinkProgress reported in December, Brigadier General Thomas W. Hartmann, the legal adviser at Guantanamo Bay, repeatedly refused to call the hypothetical waterboarding of an American pilot by the Iranian military torture.

Explaining his resignation in a letter to his Gig Harbor, WA, newspaper — the Peninsula Gateway — Williams said Hartmann’s testimony was “the final straw”:

The final straw for me was listening to General Hartmann, the highest-ranking military lawyer in charge of the military commissions, testify that he refused to say that waterboarding captured U.S. soldiers by Iranian operatives would be torture.

His testimony had just sold all the soldiers and sailors at risk of capture and subsequent torture down the river. Indeed, he would not rule out waterboarding as torture when done by the United States and indeed felt evidence obtained by such methods could be used in future trials.

http://thinkprogress.org/

4
PamB on December 29, 2007 at 09:13 AM

Here's the Religious Right's Great White Hope Dream candidate. They don't give a damn that he has zero Foreign policy credentials----as long as he says he is against Abortion and Gays is good enough for them!

Huckabee Clueless After Bhutto’s Death,


Says Pakistan Has ‘Eastern Borders’ With Afghanistan
Forced to respond to the tragic assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee has spent the last 24 hours constantly fumbling and apologizing for his cluelessness and incompetence on a key foreign policy issue


Huckabee’s muffed and embarrassing responses to Bhutto’s death underscore his glaring foreign policy incompetence.

UPDATE: A “senior aide” to Huckabee admitted Friday that Huckabee has “no foreign policy credentials


http://thinkprogress.org/2007/12/28/huckabee-pakistan/#comments

5
PamB on December 29, 2007 at 09:18 AM

FINALLY, the REAL Republicans are opening their eyes.

In an AP poll released today, most respondents say they don't trust the Republican Party to solve the biggest problems facing our nation. On the big issues, they trust Democrats more, and the two biggest issues are the economy and health care.

The Republican Party's 27-year war against the middle class has finally begun to scare away middle class voters. Old wedge issues like abortion rights, gay rights, and race-related crime are now less important to middle class Americans, who have seen their wages stagnate and benefits slashed during a time of unprecedented prosperity for the wealthiest Americans. For the first time in 45 years, the labor-participation rate -- the percentage of able workers who are actually working has dropped during a period of economic growth. And voters are noticing.


Voters say they are far more likely to trust Democrats to handle the economy and health care.


Registered as a Republican, she's ready to reconsider.

"We're Republicans and I'm very unhappy with them, and I've been watching the Democrats," she said. "We did better when (Bill) Clinton was in than we did with Bush. It's just terrible."

http://www.myleftnutmeg.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=8921E2E9BA513C91326AE49EF917FA62?diaryId=8805

6
PamB on December 29, 2007 at 09:24 AM

Pam, Huckabee's response was not just off the wall, it was offensive and very telling as to how he would handle world affairs. He is clearly unfit.

7
Cyn_NY on December 29, 2007 at 09:27 AM

Good one here for you gregg

The Flaws in Two of the Arguments of the Climate "Skeptics


Danger and Uncertainty: What Prudence and Responsibility Require

The "skeptics" about climate change often declare that the science remains uncertain. It makes no sense, therefore, they claim, to undertake certain costs to protect ourselves against uncertain dangers.

Besides the fact that the uncertainty is a good deal less than such climate "skeptics" seem to believe, there's another important point that really should be given greater emphasis in the public exchange with climate-change "skeptics," both genuine and pretend.

We make decisions all the time in the face of uncertainty. Uncertainty is chronic in our lives.

In a second frequently heard -- and also largely bogus-- argument, the "skeptics" say: "OK, so the planet is warming. But it has not been proven that this global warming problem is caused by human activity." Therefore we ought not bother to change what we're doing.

Aside from the accumulating evidence that it IS caused by human activity, the proper response to this argument is, “So what? What difference does it make whether or not the main driver behind the change is human activity?”

And even if human activity is not the major engine of the change, it has been scientifically established that greenhouse gasses have the effect of trapping the earth’s heat. And therefore it’s known, too, that reducing our emission of greenhouse gasses will reduce the warming of the climate


http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/11786

bbl,

8
PamB on December 29, 2007 at 09:28 AM

Good morning

Impeach the Chimpenfuhrer and Shotgun Dick too.

9
rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 09:34 AM

First off a note on the Chimpenfuhrer's failed economy:

Just how bad is it on Wall Street?
by Chris in Paris · 12/29/2007 05:25:00 AM ET · Link
Discuss this post here: Comments (52) · reddit · FARK ·· Digg It!

Watch this clip from CNBC and you'll have a better idea. Citi has more bad news, with rumors of 5-10% of the workforce being cut (10% is roughly 32,000 jobs!) and Bank of America won't deny reports of trimming the budget by removing soup, yes soup, from the cafeteria. They also have not denied the report that says they are no longer providing soap in their bathrooms. Yeesh. As if you didn't have to be cautious enough when shaking their hands, now this.

Equally shocking is CNBC's comments about how these moves only hurt the little guy. If true, this means that the greedy fools who took BoA into the can will be OK (no cuts there!) but the regular workers are all being asked to sacrifice. Nice. It's interesting to note that only a short time ago it was US companies looking to buy into China and today, it's China buying into the US. Batten down the hatches...rough seas ahead.

10
rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 09:35 AM

More weakness in housing report
by Chris in Paris · 12/28/2007 11:27:00 PM ET · Link
Discuss this post here: Comments (32) · reddit · FARK ·· Digg It!

What's worse between a 9% drop and a 12 year low for new homes? Either way, the Bush/GOP economy continues to falter and we're all stuck with the lousy results. How many times have we heard "record low" about another failed GOP economic policy in recent months?
================================================

GOP shills and hacks are total losers for following the little Chimpenfuhrer. They are too stupid to even realize he has ripped them off. There is nothing worst than conservative economic policy ... well, then again there is conservative foreign policy.

11
rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 09:37 AM

By Ravy at DU:

I will make this short. I like all of the Democratic candidates, and feel they are all up to the task (except for Mike Gravel). I politically agree the most with DK. I do not believe in bashing the other candidates in order to make my candidate appear stronger.

I am asking you to consider voting for John Edwards for four reasons.

1. He has been "vetted" by running in a national election before. Almost everything about him has been "out there" and mostly rejected by the voters before. I do not believe the republican "talking-points" folder about him is very thick.

2. He has shown the ability to organize an effective campaign. One of the measures that I use of how effective a candidate will be if elected is how well they can organize and run their campaign. While I like all of the Democratic candidates (excepted above) the ability to organize an effective campaign has knocked out several of the candidates I identify more closely with from my consideration. I ask you to consider this as well.

3. Edwards has shown the ability to readily admit when he makes a mistake. That, to me, is a good indication of the ability to govern well. If elected, I believe Edwards will be the most effective candidate. While I abhor presidential signing statements, I am not sure any Democrat will be able to turn this government around without using *every* tool that is available to them. Once the ship is righted, then it will become time to impose severe restrictions on the executive branch. To dismiss, out of hand, any tool that can turn this country around will ultimately slow our return to normalcy. I think Edwards will use those tools effectively and wisely.

4. I think he is hitting the nail squarely on the head with his populism. Others are hitting it as well, but Edwards is, in my opinion, the one that can drive the nail home (to stay with the metaphor).

So, I am asking any undecided or wavering voters to join me and those who support Edwards.

12
Cyn_NY on December 29, 2007 at 09:37 AM

and if it WERE true, why isn't there an uproar about WHY Bin Laden is still happy, healthy and ordered deaths???? Why is Bush such a Failure?

Posted by PamB on December 29, 2007 at 09:05 AM
===================================================
PamB,

This is an easy one.

He is such a failure because he is a die-hard proponent of conservative philosophy. Conservatives are all regressives and they have been busy screwing the country up for 25 years.
Bush is their finest example of what a complete failure conservatism is. McCain, Ghouliani, Thompson even Romney would be no different.

13
rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 09:40 AM

In an AP poll released today, most respondents say they don't trust the Republican Party to solve the biggest problems facing our nation. On the big issues, they trust Democrats more, and the two biggest issues are the economy and health care.
==================================================
PamB,

It's about time that they stopped being snowed by GOP lies. This is not a hard concept to grasp. There is no way that a GOP philosophy can solve any problem as they run from responsibility.

14
rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 09:46 AM

If Al Qaeda really was behind Bhutto's assassination, then Bush has some explaining to do
by John Aravosis (DC) · 12/28/2007 04:52:00 PM ET · Link
Discuss this post here: Comments (206) · reddit · FARK ·· Digg It!

A new intercept purportedly shows Al Qaeda admitting they were behind Bhutto's killing. If this is true, and let's face it, I wouldn't put it past the Pakistani government to start pointing fingers elsewhere, then Bush needs to explain to the American people why he's been ignoring Al Qaeda since 2003? Invading Iraq had nothing to do with Al Qaeda, and in fact, Bush closed the CIA shop in charge of searching for Osama in 2003. Bush also moved lots of military assets from Afghanistan to Iraq, assets that were looking for Al Qaeda and Osama. Bush has ignored Al Qaeda - uh, the folks who killed 3000 Americans, remember them? - since 2003 and no one has held him accountable. What's worse, we've let him (and Giuliani and others) crow about how Democrats are the ones who don't understand the threat from Al Qaeda.

15
rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 09:47 AM

Bush claims Senate's pro forma sessions don't count Hotlist
by Kagro X
Fri Dec 28, 2007 at 02:40:03 PM PST

(Bumped by Susan)

That veto George W. Bush threatened of the Defense authorization bill? The one with the troops' pay raise in it?

He hasn't even got the stones to put his signature to it:

The adjournment of the Congress has prevented my return of H.R. 1585 within the meaning of Article I, section 7, clause 2 of the Constitution. Accordingly, my withholding of approval from the bill precludes its becoming law. The Pocket Veto Case, 279 U.S. 655 (1929). In addition to withholding my signature and thereby invoking my constitutional power to "pocket veto" bills during an adjournment of the Congress, I am also sending H.R. 1585 to the Clerk of the House of Representatives, along with this memorandum setting forth my objections, to avoid unnecessary litigation about the non-enactment of the bill that results from my withholding approval and to leave no doubt that the bill is being vetoed.

That's right, civics fans: Bush is claiming this is a "pocket veto," as defined in Article I, section 7 of the Constitution:

Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a law, be presented to the President of the United States; if he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the objections at large in their journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a law. But in all such cases the votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the journal of each House respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the President within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their adjournment prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law.

Because the bill has so much in it for veterans and active members of the Armed Forces, Bush apparently doesn't dare sign an affirmative veto. Instead, he'll pretend it... just went away on its own.

But this bill was presented to the president for his signature on December 19th. It's been eight days since then, not counting Sundays as the Constitution outlines. Seven if you give an extra day for Christmas. Hasn't been ten days yet.

Not only that, but you may recall that the Senate has remained in session all this time explicitly to prevent trickery like this. The most oft-cited reason was to prevent recess appointments, but the pro forma sessions -- the most recent of which was held today, yes, the very day Bush claimed there was no session -- also serve to avoid adjournment, and therefore the pocket veto.

But not in Bushworld. In Bushworld, these sessions don't count. Because he says so.

And if Bush thinks the Senate's sessions don't count, what's stopping him from making recess appointments?

How much more abuse can this Congress stand?
==================================================

It's time to impeach the Chimpenfuhrer.

16
rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 09:51 AM

This is good news. I posted on this before. Our government should be encouraging everyone with tax rebates to install solar panels. Stop giving blackmail money to these oil companies:

Solar Power Breakthrough Hotlist
by FishOutofWater [Subscribe]
Sat Dec 29, 2007 at 04:23:51 AM PST

Revolutionary solar cell design innovations are now going into mass production. Cheap and efficient solar power is becoming a reality.

The holy grail of renewable energy came a step closer yesterday as thousands of mass-produced wafer-thin solar cells printed on aluminium film rolled off a production line in California, heralding what British scientists called "a revolution" in generating electricity.

* FishOutofWater's diary :: ::
*

The manufacturer's claims are stunning.

- the world’s first printed thin-film solar cell in a commercial panel product; - the world’s first thin-film solar cell with a low-cost back-contact capability; - the world’s lowest-cost solar panel – which we believe will make us the first solar manufacturer capable of profitably selling solar panels at as little as $.99/Watt; - the world’s highest-current thin-film solar panel – delivering five times the current of any other thin-film panel on the market today and thus simplifying system deployment

The first application is planned for a power plant in Germany, but the great promise of these solar cells is their universality.

The technology is particularly exciting because it can be used nearly everywhere. "You are talking about printing rolls of the stuff, printing it on garages, anywhere you want it. It really is a big deal in terms of altering the way we think about solar," said Dan Kamman, director of the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory at the University of California at Berkeley.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/12/29/63319/190/646/427513

17
rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 09:53 AM

Later ...

18
rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 09:58 AM

Well, Well, now that Poodle Tony Blair is gone, Britain facing Reality ! There IS NOT SUCH THING as a War on Terror! (note the source !)


Britain Drops 'War on Terror' Label
Source: Military.com

The words "war on terror" will no longer be used by the British government to describe attacks on the public, the country's chief prosecutor said Dec. 27.

Sir Ken Macdonald said terrorist fanatics were not soldiers fighting a war but simply members of an aimless "death cult."
The Director of Public Prosecutions said: 'We resist the language of warfare, and I think the government has moved on this. It no longer uses this sort of language."

"The people who were murdered on July 7 were not the victims of war. The men who killed them were not soldiers," Macdonald said. "They were fantasists, narcissists, murderers and criminals and need to be responded to in that way."
(HMMMMM, I know some trolls who fit this description !)


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3116863

19
PamB on December 29, 2007 at 10:05 AM

Like I said YESTERDAY (and no trolls had a WORD to say) then JE repeated it and again today gregg posted it (and a few minutes ago my MOM brings me a newspaper clipping of the SAME EVENT)

Right ON Vermont~!!

Vermont town seeks Bush, Cheney arrests
DAVE GRAM
AP News
Dec 28, 2007 16:54 EST

President Bush may soon have a new reason to avoid left-leaning Vermont.....................

As president, Bush has visited every state except Vermont.

Posted by Ladydawn on December 28, 2007 at 06:55 PM

If I move again. THIS is the state to which I'd love to be involved!

R I G H T O N!

and a good morning DNC friends. How cold does it get in Vermont? I don't care. ;-)

20
Ladydawn on December 29, 2007 at 10:10 AM

Isn't it amazing how many Billions of dollars Bush gave to Pakistan, to use against Terrorists that they did not use for it? And NOW, we have the Taliban and AlQaeda in position to gain power WITH ALL THOSE NUKES !!

Thanks a lot Bushie, old boy!!!

21
PamB on December 29, 2007 at 10:11 AM

Posted by PamB on December 29, 2007 at 10:05 AM

HA!

22
Ladydawn on December 29, 2007 at 10:11 AM

I LOVE it ! what are the last few asshats going to make fun of now that Bush has jumped on the Global Warming wagon????????? HAHAHAHAHA

"For years, Bush bristled privately at what he considered sky-is-falling alarmism by the liberal, elitist Hollywood crowd. The clatter over climate change, according to friends and advisers, seemed to him more like a political agenda than a rational response to known facts. But ever so gradually, they say, Bush's views have evolved. He has found the science increasingly persuasive and believes more needs to be done, especially after a set of secret briefings last winter. A former aide said Bush's staff even developed models for a market-based cap on greenhouse emissions.


Now Bush bristles not at the Hollywood types but at the notion that he does not care. At an end-of-the-year news conference, he spent more time answering a question on climate change than any other inquiry, outlining his approach in detail to dispel the notion that he does not have one. "I take the issue seriously," he said, later repeating the phrase. "And we're developing a strategy that will deal with it, and an effective strategy."
The evolution has been evident over the past year. Bush cited the danger of climate change in his State of the Union address for the first time, proposed a plan to cut gasoline consumption and, by extension, greenhouse gases, and convened a conference of major world polluters to start crafting an international accord to follow the Kyoto Protocol. He even invited former vice president Al Gore for a 40-minute talk about global warming.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3117927

23
PamB on December 29, 2007 at 10:13 AM

HERE is the reason bush to veto the defense bill! And they LOVE to talk about Weak, wimpy Democrats???? Look at Bush back down like the little Coward that he is !!!


Bush to veto defense bill after Iraq objects
Source: reuters

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - President George W. Bush intends to veto defense legislation after Iraq objected to a provision that could freeze its assets in the United States if Americans sue the country, the White House said on Friday


Iraqi officials raised their concerns with U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker about 10 days ago and when administration officials took a closer look at the provision they agreed that it could pose "grave financial risk" for Iraq, tying up assets needed for reconstruction, the White House said.

Iraq also discussed with the United States the possibility of pulling its assets, about $20 billion to $30 billion, out of U.S. institutions if the defense policy bill became law, a senior administration official said on condition of anonymity..........



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3117835

24
PamB on December 29, 2007 at 10:16 AM

Congrats Floridians For TRUTH!!

By Jim Ash
FLORIDA CAPITAL BUREAU CHIEF
~snip~

TALLAHASSEE — Nearly 16,000 contested Florida voters will be back on the rolls by the end of today now that Secretary of State Kurt Browning has lost his latest legal round in an Atlanta federal court.

25
Ladydawn on December 29, 2007 at 10:17 AM

Oooo another YAYYYY!! (or Arigato!)

Japanese sail in to back anti-whaling
Matthew Knott | December 28, 2007

AS Japanese ships continue to hunt for whales in the Southern Ocean, an ocean liner packed with Japanese activists opposed to "scientific" whaling has docked in Australia.

The Peace Boat - a vessel carrying 1000 Japanese passengers on a 110-day voyage to promote human rights and environmental issues - is demanding that Japan end its scientific whaling program.

Japan has abandoned plans to harpoon 50 threatened humpbacks, but still intends to kill 50 endangered fin whales and 935 minke whales in the Southern Ocean this summer.

"The fact our Government is killing whales in the name of so-called scientific research is very hard for us to accept and believe," Peace Boat voyage director Inoue Nao said after arriving at Circular Quay in Sydney yesterday.

26
Ladydawn on December 29, 2007 at 10:19 AM

Posted by PamB on December 29, 2007 at 10:13 AM

probably lip service Pammy

but worth watching the maggot trolls squirm a little! LOL! ;-)

27
Ladydawn on December 29, 2007 at 10:21 AM

Mobs Rampage Through Pakistani Cities
By Juan Cole
Informed Comment

Friday 28 December 2007

Mobs Rampage through Pakistani Cities; Cars, Banks, Gas Stations Torched. Sharif's Party will Boycott Elections.

My column, "With Bhutto gone, does Bush have a Plan B?" is online at Salon.com. Excerpt:

'Pakistan's future is now murky, and to the extent that this nation of 160 million buttresses the eastern flank of American security in the greater Middle East, its fate is profoundly intertwined with America's own. The money for the Sept. 11 attacks was wired to Florida from banks in Pakistan, and al-Qaida used the country for transit to Afghanistan. Instability in Pakistan may well spill over into Afghanistan, as well, endangering the some 26,000 U.S. troops and a similar number of NATO troops in that country. And it is not as if Afghanistan were stable to begin with. If Pakistani politics finds its footing, if a successor to Benazir Bhutto is elected in short order by the PPP and the party can remain united, and if elections are held soon, the crisis could pass. If there is substantial and ongoing turmoil, however, Muslim radicals will certainly take advantage of it.

In order to get through this crisis, Bush must insist that the Pakistani Supreme Court, summarily dismissed and placed under house arrest by Musharraf, be reinstated. The PPP must be allowed to elect a successor to Ms. Bhutto without the interference of the military. Early elections must be held, and the country must return to civilian rule. Pakistan's population is, contrary to the impression of many pundits in the United States, mostly moderate and uninterested in the Taliban form of Islam. But if the United States and "democracy" become associated in their minds with military dictatorship, arbitrary dismissal of judges, and political instability, they may turn to other kinds of politics, far less favorable to the United States. Musharraf may hope that the Pakistani military will stand with him even if the vast majority of people turn against him. It is a forlorn hope, and a dangerous one, as the shah of Iran discovered in 1978-79. '

I am appalled by the rightwing US pundits who are taking advantage of Bhutto's assassination to blame "the people of Pakistan" for "extremism." Benazir's party would have won at least a plurality in parliament. The PPP is a moderate, middle class party, and it has done well in unrigged elections during the past 20 years. She was killed by an extremist of some sort. The Muslim fundamentalist parties usually only get 3 percent of the vote in national elections, and they got 11.3 percent of the popular vote in 2002 only because Musharraf interfered with the PPP and Muslim League campaigns.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122807B.shtml
================================================

Neocon conservative politics have once again failed completely. The Chimp, GOP and styupid GOP hacks, shills and apologists don't have a clue. They never did. All they know how to do is lash out wildly and turn every situation into a corporate rip off. They have destroyed Iraq and there is no end in sight to that situation. The surge is complete crap, Petraeus is full of it and so are all of the right wing hacks "bragging on the surge". What the hell did the surge get them? We are no closer to getting out now than before and it just made Iraq that much more costly. Meanwhile the conservative baffoons, fools and crooks took their eyes off of Afghanistan and allowed the Taliban / Al Qaeda to develop new bases of operation in Pakistan. The obnoxious hideous Chimp even had the utmost gall to say that Bin Laden no longer mattered. No longer mattered? He may have very well planned the assasionation of Bhutto.

Face it the GOP aren't qualified to even run a dog pound. They should just disband their crappy party.

28
rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 10:24 AM

Iraq also discussed with the United States the possibility of pulling its assets, about $20 billion to $30 billion, out of U.S. institutions if the defense policy bill became law, a senior administration official said on condition of anonymity..........
===============================================

Oh so there's the real reason. It's always the same with these conservative reptiles ... money! They are greedy POS's. They should not be governing.

29
rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 10:26 AM

"We're Republicans and I'm very unhappy with them, and I've been watching the Democrats," she said. "We did better when (Bill) Clinton was in than we did with Bush. It's just terrible."
Posted by PamB on December 29, 2007 at 09:24 AM

----------------
WOW what a day so far! Pammy this ALSO deserves a BIG RIGHT ON!! (the truth is STILL refreshing no matter how many times I hear it)

30
Ladydawn on December 29, 2007 at 10:26 AM

Vermont town seeks Bush, Cheney arrests
=================================================

tee, Hee, Hee!

Way to go. Arrest the Chimpenfuhrer and the Chimp master Cheney.

31
rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 10:28 AM

"We're Republicans and I'm very unhappy with them, and I've been watching the Democrats," she said. "We did better when (Bill) Clinton was in than we did with Bush. It's just terrible."
==================================================

Here's an easy fix ... drop out of that right wing elitist party and become a Democrat OR at least an independent.

32
rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 10:29 AM

Good morning, everyone.

Posted by PamB on December 29, 2007 at 09:05 AM

Pam,

It's the WMD thing all over again. I'm surprised they haven't blamed Ahmadinejad or Hugo Chavez for Benazir Bhutto's death.

They also have not denied the report that says they are no longer providing soap in their bathrooms. Yeesh. As if you didn't have to be cautious enough when shaking their hands, now this.

Posted by rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 09:35 AM

rjsnj,

Just how bad can things be?

Or maybe they are discouraging some of their Republican male employees from spending so much time in the public restrooms?

33
SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 10:29 AM

Good Morning, ALL!

Here's a Saturday morning film for the trolls to watch and learn a thing or 2 about THEIR party. (I got it from a comment thread @ "Sadly, No!")

VERY interesting that it was made in 1946 before the Pugs got a chance to trash the educational systems of the USA and kids were actually taught important things like THIS:

Despotism (1946)

Tell me which party is which?

34
Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on December 29, 2007 at 10:29 AM

Posted by *Harpo* on December 29, 2007 at 09:39 AM
That's cute, but not as perceptive as yesterday morning when that cattle rancher, (female) told you after reading just one of your posts that she thinks you are a big, fat, stinking cow turd!

35
goodfoe on December 29, 2007 at 10:30 AM

For those that admire Miss Woolsey as I do. (her words)


My Decision To Endorse Hillary
by Representative Lynn Woolsey
in Iowa
12/28/2007 4:38 PM

My decision to endorse came down to one issue and one issue only---the war in Iraq. When I looked at everyone's experience, electability and proposals, one person stood out as not only having the right vision for bringing our troops home, but also the experience to deliver on it.

And that person is Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Hillary Clinton has the foreign policy experience, credibility and commitment to bring all sides together (including allies and neighboring states) and bring about a comprehensive solution that will put Iraq on the course towards stability and bring our troops and military contractors home to their families.

As Senator, Hillary has voted three times for a timetable for bringing our troops home, most recently by December, 2008. And, she has co-authored legislation with Senators Reid and Feingold to require the President to safely redeploy the troops within nine months, cutting off funds thereafter. She recently made a commitment to not vote for any more funds for Iraq except for the safe redeployment of our troops.

Hillary has pledged that, as President, she will waste no time ending this war as responsibly and swiftly as possible. In fact, she views this as her most important duty to the American people.

There is no issue that is more pressing to the future of our Nation and our world than bringing about an independent Iraq and peace and stability within the region.

And there is no Presidential candidate who is better equipped to lead and bring about that change than Hillary Rodham Clinton.

I'm proud to offer her my endorsement for President of the United States because I know that Hillary's the one who can take what she says and turn it into reality once she's elected. I look forward to working with her.

-------------------------

another right on, right on, right ON!!

36
Ladydawn on December 29, 2007 at 10:30 AM

TALLAHASSEE — Nearly 16,000 contested Florida voters will be back on the rolls by the end of today now that Secretary of State Kurt Browning has lost his latest legal round in an Atlanta federal court.

Posted by Ladydawn on December 29, 2007 at 10:17 AM
===================================================

Dawn, that's good news. This is how the Chimp GOP fixes elections. They can't even run a honest clean election. What a retched party.

37
rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 10:31 AM

Time for FUEL!

bbl
Peace

38
Ladydawn on December 29, 2007 at 10:32 AM

Or maybe they are discouraging some of their Republican male employees from spending so much time in the public restrooms?

Posted by SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 10:29 AM
=================================================


ouch that's bad. Too much toe tapping huh ... I didn't know Larry Craig got around that much.

39
rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 10:33 AM

Posted by Cyn_NY on December 29, 2007 at 09:37 AM
Yeah!...Go Edwards!!

40
goodfoe on December 29, 2007 at 10:34 AM

Iraq also discussed with the United States the possibility of pulling its assets, about $20 billion to $30 billion, out of U.S. institutions if the defense policy bill became law, a senior administration official said on condition of anonymity...

Posted by PamB on December 29, 2007 at 10:16 AM

Pam,

I thought we were occupying Iraq not the other way around.

This isn't how bullied, beaten people are suppose to act...unless we're talking about the Democratic Congressional leadership?

41
SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 10:36 AM

Tell me which party is which?

Posted by Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on December 29, 2007 at 10:29 AM
==================================================

Pug Uglies (that would be the GOP) are fascists.

42
rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 10:37 AM

Later ...

43
rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 10:44 AM


Britain Drops 'War on Terror' Label

Source: Military.com

The words "war on terror" will no longer be used by the British government to describe attacks on the public, the country's chief prosecutor said Dec. 27.

Sir Ken Macdonald said terrorist fanatics were not soldiers fighting a war but simply members of an aimless "death cult."

The Director of Public Prosecutions said: 'We resist the language of warfare, and I think the government has moved on this. It no longer uses this sort of language."

"The people who were murdered on July 7 were not the victims of war. The men who killed them were not soldiers," Macdonald said. "They were fantasists, narcissists, murderers and criminals and need to be responded to in that way."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3116863

Posted by PamB on December 29, 2007 at 10:05 AM

The British Attorney General isn't writing legal briefs supportering waterboarding and sticking electrodes in male genitilia like Gonzales did?
What is this world coming to?

The War on Terror is a compromised brand name. It, like Mattel and Fischer Price, have become victims of a conservative Republican movement that is far more concerned about profit rather than protecting the consumer.

National security is really not on the radar scene with the GOP. They are too busy "selling off" the nation to Asian and Arab businessmen. Perhaps they will be a little more concerned about the safety of their new American assets?

It's pretty bad when we have to depend on the kindness of communist foreigners to uphold the GOP's family values because they can't be trusted to do what they say.

Glad to see the the public is waking up to the scam.


44
SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 10:53 AM

Dear john,

We've just received some great news that I want to share with you.

A new Iowa poll, released today of likely Democratic caucus goers, shows John Edwards moving into the lead with just six days left. The Lee Enterprises newspapers poll shows John and Barack Obama at 29 percent each and Hillary Clinton at 28 percent, with 19 percent of Democrats still making up their minds.

This poll confirms our momentum -- John has moved up 5 points in just two weeks. But we need your help to keep this momentum going. Please make a contribution today.

45
goodfoe on December 29, 2007 at 10:53 AM

Bush's views have evolved.

At an end-of-the-year news conference, he spent more time answering a question on climate change than any other inquiry, outlining his approach in detail to dispel the notion that he does not have one.

Posted by PamB on December 29, 2007 at 10:13 AM

Pam,

Someone needs to tell the trolls that Bush is adopting an evolution theory.

Get on the bandwagon or Spunky may drive right over you and Limbaugh. And if Laura is at the wheel your road kill for sure.

46
SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 11:03 AM

Good Day Dems,


Con Rice is flailing in the Kissinger role:


TARIQ ALI: Her father was probably the most popular politician in Pakistan, pledging massive social reforms. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who had been elected in the 1970 elections, had won a large majority in the country that we now know as Pakistan and had been elected on a very radical platform. He came to power.

He implemented some of his reforms, not all, became extremely autocratic, clashed with the United States on a number of issues, including Pakistan’s right to have nuclear weapons. Henry Kissinger warned him in private that if you do not desist on the nuclear issue, we will make a terrible example out of you. That’s what Bhutto wrote from his death cell. The United States organized a military coup d’etat. General Zia-ul-Haq took power in 1977, organized a trial against Bhutto, charging him with an absurd charge of murdering someone. The judges were pressured, and they found him guilty, and Bhutto was hanged in April 1979. It could not have happened without US support and approval, because Zia was a nobody, and Washington clearly green-lighted the murder.

And Bhutto, from his death cell, wrote a very moving document called “If I Am Assassinated,” in which he said there are two hegemonies—these are his words. He said, “There are two hegemonies that dominate our country. One is an internal hegemony, and the other is an external hegemony. And unless we challenge the external hegemony, we will never be able to deal with the internal one,” meaning Washington is the external hegemony and the army is the internal one. And this is a problem which still haunts Pakistan and which, I have to say, has now created this new crisis.

And unfortunately, his daughter decided to collaborate with both of these hegemonies. One has to say this. Her second period in office was a total disaster, because not only did she do nothing for the poor or her natural constituency, but basically it became an extremely corrupt government, and she and her husband accumulated $1.5 billion through corruption. This is well known to everyone.

Now, when the United States decided they wanted to put her back in there, they told her, we are going to whitewash you so clean no one will even know. And this is what the global media and networks have been doing. Look, I knew her well. I’m very upset that she’s dead. But the piety being displayed on the global media networks is beyond belief. You know, it’s as if there’s no past, no history in this country or its politicians.

www.democracynow.org/2007/12/28/pakistan_in_turmoil_after_benazir_bhuttos


Democracy Now! later,

47
TomN on December 29, 2007 at 11:15 AM

Posted by Ladydawn on December 29, 2007 at 10:17 AM

dawn,

This is great news. It looks like the DNC is pushing voting reform issues along with the 50 state initiative. We must protect the right to vote for everyone.

48
SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 11:17 AM

if a guy tells me he is a Negro or Indian, thats his choice, not mine.
Posted by Dan5 on December 29, 2007 at 07:26 AM

But if a guy tells him he likes Man Coulter, Jeff Gannon, Oxy-Rush, and Senator Brownback... they've got something to talk about. LOL

The GOP... Ghouls, Oddballs, and Perverts.

btw, Frosty is a group of college republicans from different schools who hide in college system servers. One of Rove's early tricks. four and a half years... same Republican frat boys.

49
Big_Yellow_Dog on December 29, 2007 at 11:32 AM

PS: FWIW, I believe that Bush is probably in the right legally here with the pocket veto. Webb is keeping the *Senate* open, but HR 1585, like all spending bills, began in the House. As far as I know, no one is doing the same for the House, since the House doesn't matter for the purposes of recess appointments. I don't think the Dems foresaw this, and so just kept the Senate open. The Constitution is clear, however, that vetos are returned to "that House in which it shall have originated."

digbysblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/hmmm-by-digby-i-have-been-wondering.html

Attention, Nancy Pelosi. Get your ass back to Washington. The lizards outsmarted you...again.

"Who could have ever guessed this would happen" is Condi's excuse. Make this right somehow or hand over the reins to someone who knows how to deal with these vultures on a daily basis.

Maybe Senator Clinton does have a valid point when she says she has more experience dealing with the Far Right than anyone else. Rove left the building, but he's not dead.

later.

50
SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 11:39 AM

Posted by Big_Yellow_Dog on December 29, 2007 at 11:32 AM...When i first looked at this, I thought you were saying they were hiding in college system SEWERS....maybe that two, hence the term, Rat Republicans....

51
goodfoe on December 29, 2007 at 11:39 AM

Posted by Big_Yellow_Dog on December 29, 2007 at 11:32 AM

Reefer madness after all these years? The frat boys never learn or grow up.

52
SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 11:41 AM

Oh that Pelican, his beak holds more than his belly can......

53
goodfoe on December 29, 2007 at 11:43 AM

well, just when I thought I was safe and only working with Reptiles and today I met a fullfledged Ron Paul Supporter. Geez! what a nutcase.
He's hoping for a Clinton victory because he wants a revolution. If the dems get in it'll be a shorter time for the revolution, It'll take longer for the revolution if the reptiles get in.
He also said very few dems have guns, folks its getting scary out here.

54
connfloyd on December 29, 2007 at 11:46 AM

C'est une bonne journée pour des démocrates!


Daily Presidential Tracking Poll
Saturday, December 29, 2007

In the race for the Democratic Presidential Nomination, it’s Hillary Clinton 43%, Barack Obama 24% and John Edwards 14%. No other candidate tops 2% nationally (see recent daily numbers). Rasmussen Reports polling data shows that Americans are divided as to whether Bill Clinton is a plus or a minus for Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Democrats view him as a big plus. A commentary by Dick Morris says the former President was initially an asset but has become a liability.

RasmussenMarkets.com indicates that Clinton has a 69.0 % chance to win the nomination while Obama has a 24.8 % chance. The picture is much different in Iowa--Hillary Clinton has a 39.2 % chance of winning the first caucus. Obama has a 45.0 % chance and Edwards is competitive at 24.8 %. Other results are provided on the Rasmussen Markets Summary page.

55
Ladydawn on December 29, 2007 at 11:46 AM

Posted by connfloyd on December 29, 2007 at 11:46 AM

IF their weapons are properly registered, they will be on file. Too bad the loonies usually kill someone bEFORE they get arrested.

The same with putting a simple stop sign at an empty corner. No one bothers until the first, 2nd or third fatality occur at that blank corner.

It's sad SOME Politicians have ZERO forethought or care for their citizens.

Speaking of guns, did you hear that NUT JOB NUGENT is backing Elmer Fudd Huckleberry??? LMAO! Boy does THAT make a HUGE statement.

56
Ladydawn on December 29, 2007 at 11:52 AM

Maybe Senator Clinton does have a valid point when she says she has more experience dealing with the Far Right than anyone else. Rove left the building, but he's not dead.

Posted by SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 11:39 AM

I'm listening to a local radio station which does an in depth show every Saturday from 8 -Noon (CST) which dissects a single year; news, music, sports, consumer prices, movies etc. This week they are featuring 1974.

In the segment where they were detailing where people were and what they were doing the DJ read a piece about a young Lawyer named Hillary Rodham being hired to work on the Watergate prosecution.

No wonder the wingers hate her. She's been dealing with those jerks for over 30 years.

(You can listen live from the link provided. I don't know what next week's 'year' will be yet.)

57
Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on December 29, 2007 at 11:52 AM

Posted by Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on December 29, 2007 at 11:52 AM

ah HA! That's why my 60 yr old reTHUG cousin in VA said, "I'd rather have Nixon back than vote for Hillary" now it makes more sense.

Thanks {{dpd}}

58
Ladydawn on December 29, 2007 at 12:00 PM

Is that some prerequisite to becoming a politician really??? First you MUST be a freakin legal eagle?

no wonder the world is being run by elites

59
Ladydawn on December 29, 2007 at 12:12 PM

The Rethuglicans think that they have a God given right to back an 18 wheeler up to any bank and just take what ever they want. Paper money, gold bullion, anything, just take it. God said it is their right to steal. They had some difficulties with this in the U.S. but found the perfect way to accomplish it else where. Start a war and then steal every thing. Like they just backed their trucks up to the Central Bank in Baghdad an d stole 850 million. Not bad for a half days work!

60
goodfoe on December 29, 2007 at 12:16 PM

How about the FIRST SCHOOL TEACHER for President?

or Principal? Or maybe the FIRST Ambassador as President?

61
Ladydawn on December 29, 2007 at 12:16 PM

oops I guess we have an Ambassador Richardson running. Well good luck Ambassador! But he's also a Governor and we've had PLENTY of those. (good and bad)

62
Ladydawn on December 29, 2007 at 12:19 PM

Hillary - Lawyer/Senator
Obama - Lawyer/Senator
Edwards- Lawyer/Senator

what an overtly common theme

63
Ladydawn on December 29, 2007 at 12:21 PM

and on THAT wretched beasts stench I am GLAD to have other things to do this day!!

PEACE to DEMS
bbl

64
Ladydawn on December 29, 2007 at 12:27 PM

Food for thought -- the Bush Administration, the CIA, Condoleezza and Pakistan's Benzair Bhutto. Public domain article.

65
Roxie on December 29, 2007 at 12:30 PM

Senators have a difficult time getting elected. Governors have historically done better. As for Law degrees being a prerequisite, Truman was a clothing store owner before getting into local politics, Ike was Military, Johnson was a teacher, Carter was a career Military Nuclear engineer who had to quit to take over the family's farm when his father died, Ray-Gun was an idiot ass and a B movie second banana to a Chimp (how fitting), Bush 41 was a CIA spy (may have been a lawyer), Chimpy has an MBA (HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA! A lot of god it does).

So, it looks like Senator / Lawyer is a twofer in the hurdles department.

66
Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on December 29, 2007 at 12:30 PM

I see Cpl. McTurd is back. I doubt that you had enough smarts to make corporal in any real army.

67
goodfoe on December 29, 2007 at 12:36 PM

Quoting: "An estimated one million school children in Texas alone have been prescribed Ritalin."

It's sad, because there seems to resignation to throw drugs at problems instead of working to resolve those problems. Drugs have bad effects that may not show up for a long time, and drugs should be the last, not the first option.

68
Roxie on December 29, 2007 at 12:37 PM

Posted by goodfoe on December 29, 2007 at 12:36 PM

John Boy, he's just trying to emulate his hero Adolph, even to the point of turning his back on America and moving to the Fatherland.

69
Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on December 29, 2007 at 12:46 PM

I don't have a Prof title. I'm simply one of lost souls swimming in the fishbowl of politics asking myself, "Do any of my leaders have a brain?"

70
Roxie on December 29, 2007 at 12:48 PM

g'morning everyone, i hope all of you great people had a wonderful christmas and are looking forward to a warm, cozy, comfortable, and joyous new year celebration. my wife and i have been quietly enjoying the holiday season at home with our dogs and the local wildlife. in the spirit of the season may peace, serenity, and wonder be with all of you.

here's a little piece on the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists site that may explain why the sock-jock pretzeldunce has seemingly switched sides on the global warming issue.


Rising carbon emissions call for a population policy by Frederick A. B. Meyerson

So, I believe the best course of action for both human well-being and climate policy is to quickly devote as many resources as possible to reducing unwanted pregnancy, so that we reach stabilization. Almost half of all pregnancies in the United States, and one-third globally, are unintended. We can do better than that, and several countries already have.

So my guess is the fascist zealoids are all over this.

71
BoilerMan on December 29, 2007 at 12:49 PM

sociopathic creatures of various sizes, shapes and so called genders.

Posted by Prof*_McBurd on December 29, 2007 at 12:44 PM....What are you babbling about now?

72
goodfoe on December 29, 2007 at 12:49 PM

It's time for Harry Reid to dump this chump.

There certainly have been gaffes, softballs, and missed opportunities. And the most obvious are found in the Senate Committee on Homeland Security — the Senate’s version of Rep. Henry Waxman’s Oversight Committee in the House. Unlike Waxman’s enthusiastic probing, the Senate chair conducted zero proactive investigations into Bush administration malfeasance. It’s chairman? Connecticut’s Joseph Lieberman.

That ass should be stripped of all his Committee posts, tossed out of his suite of offices and moved to a Katrina trailer in a parking lot 3 blocks away.

When it comes to committee gavels, use it or lose it

73
Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on December 29, 2007 at 12:55 PM

The trolls are boring and my granddaughter wants to use the computer, so now seems like a good time to take a break.....later.....maybe.....maybe not....

74
goodfoe on December 29, 2007 at 12:55 PM

Looks like pretzeldunce should have listened to Rommel. He probable read his book, like Patton, but sock-jock couldn't remember.

But courage which goes against military expediency is stupidity, or, if it is insisted upon by a commander, irresponsibility.

Don't fight a battle if you don't gain anything by winning.

In a man-to-man fight, the winner is he who has one more round in his magazine.



75
BoilerMan on December 29, 2007 at 01:09 PM

Drugs have bad effects that may not show up for a long time, and drugs should be the last, not the first option.

Posted by Roxie on December 29, 2007 at 12:37 PM

Roxie,

Good point. Look what they did to Spunky. Cheney is a walking iron lung with a taser attached for good measure.

Our whole economy revolves around drugs. That's why the GOP Congress let the pharmacutical corporations write their Medicare drug bill. They saw the housing market tanking and had to find some way to keep the stock market afloat.

What are the two most advertised products on TV? Drugs and cars. Unfortunately, working people in this country can no loner afford either these days without taking out a home equity loan. Because of the sub-prime meltdown, there is no equity left.

I guess we'll just have to live with the pain of Republican incompetence till January 2009?

76
SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 01:20 PM

Posted by goodfoe on December 29, 2007 at 12:55 PM

Hi, John Boy.

The writer's strike is really hitting the trolls hard. They have been working with their own material of late and have now resorted to quoting Patton who probably would have shot all of them on sight.

77
SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 01:23 PM

Posted by BoilerMan on December 29, 2007 at 12:49 PM

BoilerMan,

So we can expect the GOP to flip flop on birth control, too? That's not going to make their fundie base happy. It will, however, make the pharmacueticals richer.

I guess it's a trade off for the Republicans with the Religious Right having to find some real religion for a change.

bbl.

78
SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 01:30 PM

It's not unexpected that we have a drug problem when from the day you come into this world you're bombarded with claims about how simply popping one pill or another into your mouth will solve what ever ailment or problem you might have. We need to undo the legislation allowing the pharms to directly advertise to the public. Big mistake!

79
BoilerMan on December 29, 2007 at 01:31 PM

Cool chart linked at KOS, showing how many times each of the Candidates mentioned certain words in the debates. Boy are the Pugs a bunch of phonies!

Check out the differences between the parties on the words "Bush" and Reagan".

80
Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on December 29, 2007 at 01:32 PM

I guess it's a trade off for the Republicans with the Religious Right having to find some real religion for a change.

Posted by SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 01:30 PM

Perhaps they'll discover that real religion is a personal thing and something you require of yourself, not of others and those who might think differently than you.

81
BoilerMan on December 29, 2007 at 01:37 PM

My problem with the Religious Right is that they can use scripture to justify injustice and war just as easy as the Islamic revolutionaries.

Using scripture to justify, in the name God, the very things commanded against just amazes me.

One other question, is there a CIA, Condo, Bhutto connection a covert mission in Pakistan?

82
Roxie on December 29, 2007 at 01:47 PM

BOY, Kos has all the links I was looking for. I heard this story on the news this morning and was waiting for it to get put on line.

This just shows how those Pugs really are. it's ALL "ME ME ME" ALL the time. Pugs are the lowest of the low. These worms should be sent to prison.

Notice the City listed in the Dateline.

Girl won Hannah Montana tickets with fake essay

Pug "KKKristian" "Family Values" = how low can you go?

83
Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on December 29, 2007 at 01:48 PM

Another thing the religious right seems to be unable, or unwilling, to comprehend is the fact that a person doesn't have to be a believer, or belong to an organized religion, to be honest, caring, compassionate, decent, or good.

84
BoilerMan on December 29, 2007 at 01:56 PM

Gez, anything for free tickets!

85
Roxie on December 29, 2007 at 01:58 PM

10:37 AM 12/29/07

The cowardice and stupidity of this Congress is already manifest for most of us, but when the results of their suspension of the AMT begin to be felt next year, and millions of Americans are paupered as a result of it while the billionaires continue to prosper, everyone will be running in circles shouting "What happened? What happened?" Well, what will have happened is that Congress failed to tax the rich adequately to sustain a decent society, and the AMT was the best place to start doing it. Instead, they repealed it for a year, allowing the recession to deepen, the dollar to weaken, trade to halt, credit to end, etc., on and on.... It's too late now to prevent the worst results of the Reaganomics nightmare begun 30-odd years ago. Maybe the next generation will be canny enough to see through their own prejudicices to the bullshit they are being handed when they indulge them. Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe, even if they do, it will be too late to do much about it.

86
radlib on December 29, 2007 at 02:14 PM

Roxie, about Bhuto, Condi, and the rest. Digby has been all over that as has Middle East expert Professor Juan Cole.


Still Playing The Great Game

Too Many Posts to Name. Read them ALL (as Michael Link says)

87
Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on December 29, 2007 at 02:15 PM

I read Juan Cole, he shares a childhood history with me. Mine looks at from the aspect of Bhutto herself, the martyrdom mindset and her pre-planned attempts to reach out from the grave, and the barbaric nature of the Pakistan political system.

88
Roxie on December 29, 2007 at 02:22 PM

Roxie, more on the Bhuto killing, with more links to Juan Cole, and quotes from the attending physician.

she was murdered, end of discussion...

89
Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on December 29, 2007 at 02:24 PM

And apparently even a blind drunk can find his own 2 nuts every day.

90
Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on December 29, 2007 at 02:31 PM

And apparently even a blind drunk can find his own 2 nuts every day.

Posted by Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on December 29, 2007 at 02:31 PM


ROFLMAO ! No matter how small !

91
PamB on December 29, 2007 at 02:36 PM

doo bee,

rumor has it, Thom-ass had a tatoo of Eisenhower on his scrotum, but these days it looks like Orville Reddenbacher ! tee hee !

92
PamB on December 29, 2007 at 02:38 PM

It's amazing what they can do with micro-printing now-a-days, isn't it?

93
Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on December 29, 2007 at 02:41 PM

they've come a long way, doo-bee! :)

God help him if he ever needs prostate surgery though! LOL.

94
PamB on December 29, 2007 at 02:47 PM

It's about friggin time Chimpy did something right.

Of course like the coward he is, he did it without all the pomp and circumstance that he used when he VETOED this very same Bill just to gain props from the Pug "base".

Bush signs SCHIP expansion.

Me thinks Chimpy is trying to build a "legacy" other than WORST PRESIDENT IN HISTORY.

I guess Michelle Martian and the rest of the Nazis owe that 12 year old kid a life time of apologies.

95
Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on December 29, 2007 at 02:50 PM

Well Yeah, Senator Clinton has been active in politics since age 14. She actually went to recount votes for Nixon when he ran against Kennedy. She did this without the knowledge of her parents. Her and friend jumped on a bus and went downtown Chicago to help run down address against votes. Geez! I thought everyone knew her whole history. Well, everyone knows the Newt and Rove whole lying history. She's a extremely intelligent lady with a lot of ability. She might had already been President if she hadn't followed that man of hers to backwoods Arkansas.

96
connfloyd on December 29, 2007 at 02:51 PM

Posted by PamB on December 29, 2007 at 02:47 PM

Why? It would be easy to go right through the ear canal. After all, he keeps his ass between his ears (whenever his head isn't up his butt).

97
Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on December 29, 2007 at 02:53 PM

Pam, the guy running against Chris Shays is LIVE BLOGGING RIGHT NOW @ FDL.

Blue America Welcomes Jim Himes

98
Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on December 29, 2007 at 03:00 PM

GIVING AWAY APPALACHIA

December 27, 2007
Posted by Jim Hightower

Boy, things are hectic inside the Bush regime these days! The clock is ticking, and Corporate America is rushing to get all the favors it can before Bush & Company closes down in 2009. Sure enough, the Bushites are delivering.

It received little media attention, but the giant coal operators (which have been reliable funders for George and the GOP) recently got a huge goodie handed to them: Bush gave them Appalachia! His office of surface mining quietly issued a new regulation that would allow King Coal to ravage the ancient mountains, glorious forests, and pure streams of Central Appalachia at will.

The action was necessary, say the Bushites, to “clarify” existing laws governing a greedy, ruthless, and abhorrent mining process called mountaintop removal. This process decapitates the mountains, exploding the tops of them, then savagely shoving the trees, topsoil, wildlife, and other rubble down the mountainsides, burying the valleys and streams below.

This is a corporate rape and environmental mutilation – but, hey, it produces quick profits for the industry, which had been pushing since George took office to have it legalized.

www.jimhightower.com/node/6297

I believe this was the technique used by The Aliens in "War of the Worlds" to destroy all life on our planet?

This is the sort of thing that the GOP thinks will solidify their support among young evangelical Christians living in that part of the country?
Let's see how important God's Green Earth is to those who say they want to be good Sheppard’s.

I'm thinking The Great Divide may be coming sooner than we think.

"Take the money and run" might translate in the next election to "take this you filthy bastards". I'm paraphrasing here for those gentle religious people who speak more softly than I but can also wield a Big Stick from time to time.

Where does Byrd stand on this? Is he owned by the coal barrons? If not, this may be a nice issue to champion and end his long and distinguished service to the people of Appalachia.

If not, it might be a good way for a young Democrat to start out his new political career.

99
SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 03:26 PM

Keep it up, Thom-ass and I might have to start posting your little buddy Stevie's info again! You KNOW how he hates to have his parnoid info out there !


Me thinks you protest WAY too much about those little jewels of your's! Thanks, but unless I need a good laugh, I will pass on a picture of your 'girls" !

100
PamB on December 29, 2007 at 03:32 PM

Now if only Bush had not pulled out troops out of Afghanistan for Iraq, we would have HAD this guy by now! But just another Bush Failure !

CAIRO, Egypt - Osama bin Laden warned Iraq's Sunni Arabs against fighting al-Qaida and promised to expand the terror group's holy war to Israel in a new audiotape Saturday, threatening "blood for blood, destruction for destruction."


Most of the 56-minute tape dealt with Iraq, apparently al-Qaida's latest attempt to keep supporters in Iraq unified at a time when the U.S. military claims to have al-Qaida's Iraq branch on the run.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071229/ap_on_re_mi_ea/bin_laden_tape

101
PamB on December 29, 2007 at 03:42 PM

She might had already been President if she hadn't followed that man of hers to backwoods Arkansas.

Posted by connfloyd on December 29, 2007 at 02:51 PM

That's the message she should be pushing among women voters.

We've all had enough of all this nonsense about letting men screw up the works because the Bible says they should...which it really doesn't but the misinterruptation helps these hapless little lambs feel more important that way.

Mary Mageline was a whore and Mary was a virgin.

We've heard these fairy tales since childhood. Grown women know better. Jesus saw them both as they were and blessed them for putting up with all the crap grown men do in the name of God's knows what...like torture, war, or raping mountaintops to make an easy buck or two.

102
SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 03:42 PM

Hey Doo Bee,

I have met Jim Himes at the Jefferson jackson dinner and he is a great guy. We hope to knock Shays out this time, too, and there will not be anymore Republicans in congress in New England ! I will work for Jim, believe it.


103
PamB on December 29, 2007 at 03:44 PM

well, looks like more Bush Failures ! Bush should have minded his own business !

Bolton: US 'helped precipitate' conditions for Bhutto's assassination

The US has seen its options for dealing with Pakistan crumble with Benazir Bhutto's assassination Thursday, and a former diplomat says American foreign policy decisions helped "precipitate" the former prime minister's death.


John Bolton, former US ambassador to the United Nations, said it was a mistake to collaborate with Bhutto's "desire to get back into the game in Pakistan" and view her as an alternative to the country's current leader, Pervez Musharraf.


http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Bolton_US_helped_precipitate_conditions_for_1228.html

104
PamB on December 29, 2007 at 03:50 PM

Bolton: US 'helped precipitate' conditions for Bhutto's assassination
=================================================

Hi PamB

Good ole Chimpy McLoser strikes again. I think Chimpy should confine his activities to cutting brush on the phony ranch for the next year.

105
rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 03:53 PM

Despite the last few non-believers, looks like global Warming is Here !

2007 a year of weather records in U.S.

Experts Verify 2007 Has Been a Year of Weather Extremes: 263 Record Temps Broken in U.S.

When the calendar turned to 2007, the heat went on and the weather just got weirder. January was the warmest first month on record worldwide — 1.53 degrees above normal. It was the first time since record-keeping began in 1880 that the globe's average temperature has been so far above the norm for any month of the year.

And as 2007 drew to a close, it was also shaping up to be the hottest year on record in the Northern Hemisphere.

http://www.rawstory.com/news/mochila/2007_a_year_of_weather_records_in_U_12292007.html

106
PamB on December 29, 2007 at 03:54 PM

The Nation on the Edwards surge Hotlist
by JeremiahFP [Subscribe]
Sat Dec 29, 2007 at 09:05:34 AM PST

John Nichols wrote a great article called Behind the Edwards Surge: Right Message at the Right Time. As a passionate Edwards-supporter, I certainly hope that the Nation and others are correct -- I hope Edwards is surging and that he is about to win Iowa and begin his march to the presidency. If and when he does win, it will be for the reasons that Nichols gives in his article:

To a far greater extent than Obama or Clinton, Edwards has struck at the heart of issues that should matter most in the race to replace not just George W. Bush, but the Bush agenda of corporate giveaways, job-crushing free trade deals, war profiteering in Iraq, and subprime mortgage profiteering in Indiana, Idaho, Illinois and, yes, Iowa.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/12/29/12534/095/307/426827
===============================================

Go Edwards! Sorry ... I had to get that shameless plug in.

107
rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 03:55 PM

Posted by PamB on December 29, 2007 at 03:42 PM

Pam,

I'm surprised Bin Lauden isn't offering the Iraqi Sunnis $400 a month per head to keep the violence going as opposed to Bush's $300 to make the surge look like it's a miracle?

There must be any number of Saudi Arabian donners willing to antee up for the Cause just like they did to fund the 9/11 attack. But I suppose in this way Bin Lauden gets Bush to waste more money while arming future recruits to infiltrate Israel.

If the neocons can't outsmart these Arabs, perhaps we should just go home and let them fight it out amongst themselves?

108
SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 03:55 PM

Lineups for Sunday news shows

By The Associated Press, Associated Press
Last update: December 28, 2007 - 4:45 PM

NBC's "Meet the Press" _ Former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.
___

ABC's "This Week" _ Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and John McCain, R-Ariz.

___

CBS' "Face the Nation" _ Former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C.
___

CNN's "Late Edition" _ Sens. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and Joe Biden, D-Del.; former Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga.; former Defense Secretary William Cohen.
___

"Fox News Sunday" _ Former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn.
YAWNING! :-O

hehee! just a fly by - bbl

109
Ladydawn on December 29, 2007 at 03:58 PM

Posted by SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 03:42 PM

sandy, couple of weeks ago when i mentioned to j that she shouldn't ask our candidates for their plans on specific issues, you objected. well, i have to say you were right. i've reconsidered and concluded that, yes, we do indeed need to know exactly how they plan on fixing this mess and make life better for everyday folks. the reason for my change is that it's very easy to say you're going to do something, but the essential element is how you do it. ok, we're going to eliminate poverty. well, one person might do it by sharing the wealth, another might do it by shooting all the poor people. thanks, sandy.

110
BoilerMan on December 29, 2007 at 03:59 PM

2007 a year of weather records in U.S.

Experts Verify 2007 Has Been a Year of Weather Extremes: 263 Record Temps Broken in U.S.
===================================================

There is no doubt about global warming. Only pinheads and losers like Ann Coulter, Glenn Beck, etc... keep denying it mainly because of their greed.

Al Gore deserved the nobel peace prize and the conservative chimps can't stand it. It kills them to acknowledge that Gore was the right person to be president (and the actual winner!).

By the way, Kerry was a war hero. Chimpaloser didn't even step foot in Vietnam. Shotgun Dick didn't serve at all. Two chickenhawk losers. The chickenhawks just can't stand that Kerry got medals and they can never take that away from him.

Face up to it right wingnuts. Your leader is a Chimp. He should be cutting brush rather than pretending to be a president.

111
rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 04:01 PM

Here's another one Bush screwed up! He refused to have Rice sit down and compromise and talk to Iran. Little tough cock of the walk rooster, now losing Iranian oil to russia !!!

Russia, Iran tighten the energy noose


Foreign ministers are busy people - especially energetic, creative diplomats like Russia's Sergei Lavrov and Iran's Manouchehr Mottaki, representing capitals that by tradition place great store on international diplomacy.

Therefore, the very fact that Lavrov and Mottaki have met no less than four times in as many months suggests a great deal about the high importance attached by the two capitals to their mutual understanding at the bilateral and regional level.

Moscow and Tehran have worked hard in recent months to successfully put behind them their squabble over the construction

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/IL22Ag01.html

112
PamB on December 29, 2007 at 04:02 PM

"Fox News Sunday" _ Former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn.
YAWNING! :-O
==================================================

Freddy Cheeseball ... now talk about a typical conservative GOP loser.

113
rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 04:03 PM

Posted by PamB on December 29, 2007 at 03:50 PM

Boy, there's no honor among these theives. Bolton is stabbing Spunky in the back. None of them care if they spill White House blood any longer. Incompetence has a way of breaking down the strongest resistance.

However, I'm certain Bolton's real objective is to in some way argue that we now need to invade Iran...to save Pakistan. It's pretty convaluted logic but that's how the neocons operate.

Giuliani and McCain would go for it. Romney would do anything Cheney told him to...even from the grave. Huckabee doesn't know where Pakistan or Iran is. Thompson once did, but he doesn't think it's important anymore.

What a line up of candidates and a foreign policy disaster to match them.

114
SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 04:03 PM

Here's another one Bush screwed up! He refused to have Rice sit down and compromise and talk to Iran.
====================================================

Of course, the Chimpenfuhrer knows everything ... but really knows nothing. We all knew he was going to be a major loser in 2000. He's lived up to the worst expectations. Time for Chimpy boy to ride into the sunset and cut brush permanently.

115
rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 04:05 PM

Posted by Ladydawn on December 29, 2007 at 03:58 PM

dawn,

Nobody wants to talk to Romney?

I guess when he made that remark about it was more important for his five sons to help him get elected than service in the miliary his candidacy was pretty much over.

116
SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 04:09 PM

Posted by SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 01:23 PM
Patton would have done what he did with people like these, he would have slapped them, open handed until they cried and peed in their pants. He liked doing that to cowards.

117
goodfoe on December 29, 2007 at 04:09 PM

Does anyone else suspect that al-qaida might be trying to refocus attention on iraq as a distraction from their real intent of going after pakistan's nukes? Sock-jock prezteldunce's biggest most grave blunder was not going 110% after bin lauden in afganistan. stupid, stupid, stupid!

118
BoilerMan on December 29, 2007 at