Internet muse.
Daring, bold, never sold.
My daily weblog of politics, humor, philosophy...and a constant and nagging reminder of the existence of universal love....
Saturday, May 22, 2004
Look at me, Ma
Look at me, Ma..I'm...
...uh....just going back to my little blue bike now......
Vroooom...Heh-heh--Who's the MAN? [Penguin laugh]
Saudi Arabia has been working hard
"Saudi Arabia has been and will continue to be a strong and reliable energy partner. We are working to bring prices down for
- Prince Bandar bin Sultan
Ref: OPEC Unity Threatened by Saudi Promises
The Point- William Rivers Pitt
The Point-
William Rivers Pitt
I dreamed kind Jesus fouled the big-gun gears;
And caused a permanent stoppage in all bolts;
And buckled with a smile Mausers and Colts;
And rusted every bayonet with His tears.
And there were no more bombs, of ours or theirs,
Not even an old flint-lock, not even a pikel.
But God was vexed, and gave all power to Michael;
And when I woke he'd seen to our repairs.
-- Wilfred Owen, "Soldier's Dream"
William Rivers Pitt
I dreamed kind Jesus fouled the big-gun gears;
And caused a permanent stoppage in all bolts;
And buckled with a smile Mausers and Colts;
And rusted every bayonet with His tears.
And there were no more bombs, of ours or theirs,
Not even an old flint-lock, not even a pikel.
But God was vexed, and gave all power to Michael;
And when I woke he'd seen to our repairs.
-- Wilfred Owen, "Soldier's Dream"
It is safe to say that a majority of Americans would weep no bitter tears for any hard-core al Qaeda fighters left alone with several angry MI officers and a snarling dog, if such tactics would keep further 9/11 attacks from taking place. Such is the state of our morality in the 21st century, but for the moment, that is beside the point.
The point is four-fold:
a) The seven soldiers at the center of the Abu Ghraib scandal did not perpetrate these horrors on their own, but were ordered to do so. According to Sgt. Provance, those orders are now being covered up.
b) The torture took place because George W. Bush, Don Rumsfeld and John Ashcroft decided that Taliban and al Qaeda prisoners were not subject to the protections of the Geneva Conventions. The orders that created a torture-friendly environment came from the very, very top.
c) The strictures of the Geneva Conventions were deliberately removed because Bush administration officials feared war crimes prosecutions, as is clearly stated in the Gonzales memo.
d) The vast majority of Iraqis tortured in Abu Ghraib were not Taliban, were not al Qaeda, were not even 'insurgents.' They were civilians, among thousands swept up and jailed by American forces. However one may feel about terrorists being provided Geneva Convention protections, only a soulless fiend can devise a defense for the torture, rape, molestation and abuse absorbed by innocent people in Abu Ghraib.
-William Rivers Pitt/Trickle-Down Morality
[LINK]
The point is four-fold:
a) The seven soldiers at the center of the Abu Ghraib scandal did not perpetrate these horrors on their own, but were ordered to do so. According to Sgt. Provance, those orders are now being covered up.
b) The torture took place because George W. Bush, Don Rumsfeld and John Ashcroft decided that Taliban and al Qaeda prisoners were not subject to the protections of the Geneva Conventions. The orders that created a torture-friendly environment came from the very, very top.
c) The strictures of the Geneva Conventions were deliberately removed because Bush administration officials feared war crimes prosecutions, as is clearly stated in the Gonzales memo.
d) The vast majority of Iraqis tortured in Abu Ghraib were not Taliban, were not al Qaeda, were not even 'insurgents.' They were civilians, among thousands swept up and jailed by American forces. However one may feel about terrorists being provided Geneva Convention protections, only a soulless fiend can devise a defense for the torture, rape, molestation and abuse absorbed by innocent people in Abu Ghraib.
-William Rivers Pitt/Trickle-Down Morality
[LINK]
Monet's Waterlilies
Monet's Waterlilies
Today as the news from Selma and Saigon
poisons the air like fallout,
I come again to see
the serene, great picture that I love.
Here space and time exist in light
the eye like the eye of faith believes.
The seen, the known
dissolve in iridescence, become
illusive flesh of light
that was not, was, forever is.
O light beheld as through refracting tears.
Here is the aura of that world
each of us has lost.
Here is the shadow of its joy.
Robert Hayden
Soldiers eat Iraqis, puke them back up, and make their parents eat their own vomited children
Soldiers eat Iraqis, puke them back up, and make their parents eat their own vomited children
ADVANCED FORMS OF DEATH, PART ONE
state-of-the-art punishments
New videos show totally awesome new behaviors by the unchristian coalition "specialists".
There are those who evolve, and there are those who do not even believe in the existence of evolution. These people are free to continue acting like apes. But why dog the poor ape? Apes are among the innocent.
If only evolution were allowed, we might be able to rise above our barbarity. But nooo!
And so we wind up with images of human beings eating other human beings, images of human beings puking out the remains of our enemies, and images of human beings forcing the parents of these eaten unfortunates...to eat their unfortunates.
These parents are not likely to send their other children to battle the great America! Case dismissed!
But alas the case is not dismissed. It was a headbirth in the first place; a sick pipe dream; a weak attempt at imagining what the actual videos DO contain, since they are not willing to show them, and answer our speculation with the real thing.
Who knows? It may prove worse still! I cease to be amazed at the depths to which humans can sink when they are filled with fear, drugs and ego.
As a regular American with no political strivings, I want to apologize to the world for the behavior of a number of my bretheren and sisteren. I suspect that those "on the ground", "doing the dirty deed", are fearful and order-takers.
But they are acting cogs in someone higher's sick "vision", which is really a lack of vision. A simulacrum. A scheme. Sadly one that has killed and maimed and disinfranchised tens, if not hundreds, of thousands...all the while adding to their inheritance of wind. Hot wind boomerang.
Americans are the world. George is but a Texan. Too small for the job. Too ambitious. Unconcerned about future generations. Egoboy.
Surely John Kerry will be a better steward. Please have patience.
ADVANCED FORMS OF DEATH, PART ONE
state-of-the-art punishments
New videos show totally awesome new behaviors by the unchristian coalition "specialists".
There are those who evolve, and there are those who do not even believe in the existence of evolution. These people are free to continue acting like apes. But why dog the poor ape? Apes are among the innocent.
If only evolution were allowed, we might be able to rise above our barbarity. But nooo!
And so we wind up with images of human beings eating other human beings, images of human beings puking out the remains of our enemies, and images of human beings forcing the parents of these eaten unfortunates...to eat their unfortunates.
These parents are not likely to send their other children to battle the great America! Case dismissed!
But alas the case is not dismissed. It was a headbirth in the first place; a sick pipe dream; a weak attempt at imagining what the actual videos DO contain, since they are not willing to show them, and answer our speculation with the real thing.
Who knows? It may prove worse still! I cease to be amazed at the depths to which humans can sink when they are filled with fear, drugs and ego.
As a regular American with no political strivings, I want to apologize to the world for the behavior of a number of my bretheren and sisteren. I suspect that those "on the ground", "doing the dirty deed", are fearful and order-takers.
But they are acting cogs in someone higher's sick "vision", which is really a lack of vision. A simulacrum. A scheme. Sadly one that has killed and maimed and disinfranchised tens, if not hundreds, of thousands...all the while adding to their inheritance of wind. Hot wind boomerang.
Americans are the world. George is but a Texan. Too small for the job. Too ambitious. Unconcerned about future generations. Egoboy.
Surely John Kerry will be a better steward. Please have patience.
Doonesbury comic strip to list names of military victims killed in Iraq war
Doonesbury comic strip to list names of military victims killed in Iraq war
The comic will list chronologically the names of 702 soldiers killed through April 23, said Lee Salem, editor of the Kansas City-based Universal Press Syndicate, which distributes the strip. The names were set in 6-point type to fit in the six panels of the May 30 strip. "The intent (of the strip) is to recognize those who died," Salem said.
[LINK]
The comic will list chronologically the names of 702 soldiers killed through April 23, said Lee Salem, editor of the Kansas City-based Universal Press Syndicate, which distributes the strip. The names were set in 6-point type to fit in the six panels of the May 30 strip. "The intent (of the strip) is to recognize those who died," Salem said.
[LINK]
Friday, May 21, 2004
Security contractor in Iraq answers Josh Marshall's questions
Security contractor in Iraq answers Josh Marshall's questions
Josh Marshall gets an insider's view of how 'the street' is viewing Abu Ghraib in Iraq, the general feeling amongst the troops, and the extent to which the average soldier is able to connect with news from the outside world via internet. [LINK]
Josh Marshall gets an insider's view of how 'the street' is viewing Abu Ghraib in Iraq, the general feeling amongst the troops, and the extent to which the average soldier is able to connect with news from the outside world via internet. [LINK]
Chalabi Failure- Bush(neo)Conned?
Chalabi Failure-
Bush(neo)Conned?
"I am America's best friend in Iraq."
-Ahmad Chalabi
Standing of Former Key U.S. Ally in Iraq Falls to New Low
From: Robin Wright/Washington Post
Chalabi's betrayal
From: UPI
--"The Iraq Blame Game"
From: Newsmax
Chalabi's Seat of Honor Lost to Open Political Warfare With U.S.
From: David Sanger/N.Y.Times
'America's best friend in Iraq' angry over raid But Chalabi says, 'I am not marginalized'
From: David J. Lynch/USA Today
SEE IDDYBUD 9-30-03
Bush(neo)Conned?
"I am America's best friend in Iraq."
-Ahmad Chalabi
Standing of Former Key U.S. Ally in Iraq Falls to New Low
From: Robin Wright/Washington Post
Chalabi's betrayal
From: UPI
--"The Iraq Blame Game"
From: Newsmax
Chalabi's Seat of Honor Lost to Open Political Warfare With U.S.
From: David Sanger/N.Y.Times
'America's best friend in Iraq' angry over raid But Chalabi says, 'I am not marginalized'
From: David J. Lynch/USA Today
SEE IDDYBUD 9-30-03
Newsweek backs some of Maher Arar's story
Newsweek backs some of Maher Arar's story
By 2004, the United States was running a covert chartered airline moving CIA prisoners from one secret facility to another. The reason? It was judged impolitic (and too traceable)to use the U.S. Air Force.
--Newsweek Magazine
Maher Arar, 34, is the Syrian-born Canadian who was detained in the U.S. in September, 2002, while changing planes in New York on his way to Ottawa. He was deported to Jordan and then Syria, where he was kept for 10 months and interrogated before being released.
(See Iddybud/11-15-03)
Last November, the Center for Constitutional Rights asked members of both the House of Representatives committee on intelligence and its Senate counterpart to review Mr. Arar's case. At the time, a Republican member of the Senate intelligence oversight committee, provided little hope that they would take up Mr. Arar's case. "We don't have time to do it," he'd said.
I wonder if they'll find the time now....with this current Newsweek report...after Abu Ghraib...after the Canadian inquiry which is about to draw attention to yet another kind of U.S. complicity in torture?
[LINK]
SEE: America's Gulag: Stephen Grey uncovers a secret global network of prisons and planes that allows the US to hand over its enemies for interrogation, and sometimes torture, by the agents of its more unsavoury allies.
[LINK]
By 2004, the United States was running a covert chartered airline moving CIA prisoners from one secret facility to another. The reason? It was judged impolitic (and too traceable)to use the U.S. Air Force.
--Newsweek Magazine
Maher Arar, 34, is the Syrian-born Canadian who was detained in the U.S. in September, 2002, while changing planes in New York on his way to Ottawa. He was deported to Jordan and then Syria, where he was kept for 10 months and interrogated before being released.
(See Iddybud/11-15-03)
Last November, the Center for Constitutional Rights asked members of both the House of Representatives committee on intelligence and its Senate counterpart to review Mr. Arar's case. At the time, a Republican member of the Senate intelligence oversight committee, provided little hope that they would take up Mr. Arar's case. "We don't have time to do it," he'd said.
I wonder if they'll find the time now....with this current Newsweek report...after Abu Ghraib...after the Canadian inquiry which is about to draw attention to yet another kind of U.S. complicity in torture?
[LINK]
SEE: America's Gulag: Stephen Grey uncovers a secret global network of prisons and planes that allows the US to hand over its enemies for interrogation, and sometimes torture, by the agents of its more unsavoury allies.
[LINK]
Sibel Edmonds/9-11: What does Ashcroft think he's hiding?
Sibel Edmonds/9-11
What does Ashcroft think he's hiding?
Even GOP legislators in disbelief over Ashcroft's unusual retroactive classifying of Sibel Edmonds info.
Reference: Meet Sibel Edmonds/Iddybud 4-2-04
What does Ashcroft think he's hiding?
Even GOP legislators in disbelief over Ashcroft's unusual retroactive classifying of Sibel Edmonds info.
..the FBI now maintains that some of the information discussed was so potentially damaging if released publicly that it is now considered classified.
[LINK]
[LINK]
Reference: Meet Sibel Edmonds/Iddybud 4-2-04
Journalist Rashid Hamid Wali killed in Iraq
Journalist Rashid Hamid Wali killed in Iraq
According to Reuters, Rashid Hamid Wali,a father of six, was killed while Al-Jazeera was filming fighting in the southern city of Karbala where US forces are battling to put down a weeks-old rebellion by Sadr's militia. [LINK]
According to Reuters, Rashid Hamid Wali,a father of six, was killed while Al-Jazeera was filming fighting in the southern city of Karbala where US forces are battling to put down a weeks-old rebellion by Sadr's militia. [LINK]
Scott Ritter: Iraq sarin shell is not part of a secret cache
Scott Ritter: Iraq sarin shell is not part of a secret cache
Given that the US is in the midst of a contentious presidential campaign, it's essential that accurate data about Iraq be available to the electorate. The handling of the sarin shell incident is the greatest justification yet for shutting down the ISG, and the immediate return to Iraq of UN weapons inspectors - if for no other reason than to restore a vestige of credibility to a disarmament effort that long ago lost its moral compass.
[LINK]
[LINK]
A link to transcripts of all Iraqi prisoner abuse hearings
A link to transcripts of all Iraqi prisoner abuse hearings
Wednesday, May 19:
Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing (Open Session) [LINK]
Witnesses:
-Commander, U.S. Central Command, Gen. John P. Abizaid
-Multinational Force-Iraq Commander, Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez
-Multinational Force-Iraq Deputy Commander for Detainee Operations, Maj. Gen. Geoffrey D. Miller
Tuesday, May 11:
Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing (Afternoon Session) [LINK]
Witnesses:
-U.S. Army Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Keith B. Alexander
-Joint Staff Director for Intelligence Maj. Gen. Ronald L. Burgess Jr.
-U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Thomas J. Romig
Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing (Morning Session) [LINK]
Witnesses:
-Maj. Gen. Antonio M. Taguba, Deputy Commanding General for Support, Coalition Forces Land Component Command
-Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Stephen A. Cambone
-U.S. Central Command Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Lance L. Smith
Friday, May 7:
House Armed Services Committee Hearing [LINK]
Witnesses:
-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld
-Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Richard B.Myers
-Acting Army Secretary Les Brownlee
-Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker
-U.S. Central Command Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Lance L. Smith
Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing [LINK]
Witnesses:
-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld
-Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Richard B. Myers
-Acting Army Secretary Les Brownlee
-Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker
-U.S. Central Command Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Lance L. Smith
Wednesday, May 19:
Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing (Open Session) [LINK]
Witnesses:
-Commander, U.S. Central Command, Gen. John P. Abizaid
-Multinational Force-Iraq Commander, Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez
-Multinational Force-Iraq Deputy Commander for Detainee Operations, Maj. Gen. Geoffrey D. Miller
Tuesday, May 11:
Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing (Afternoon Session) [LINK]
Witnesses:
-U.S. Army Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Keith B. Alexander
-Joint Staff Director for Intelligence Maj. Gen. Ronald L. Burgess Jr.
-U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Thomas J. Romig
Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing (Morning Session) [LINK]
Witnesses:
-Maj. Gen. Antonio M. Taguba, Deputy Commanding General for Support, Coalition Forces Land Component Command
-Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Stephen A. Cambone
-U.S. Central Command Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Lance L. Smith
Friday, May 7:
House Armed Services Committee Hearing [LINK]
Witnesses:
-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld
-Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Richard B.Myers
-Acting Army Secretary Les Brownlee
-Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker
-U.S. Central Command Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Lance L. Smith
Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing [LINK]
Witnesses:
-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld
-Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Richard B. Myers
-Acting Army Secretary Les Brownlee
-Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker
-U.S. Central Command Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Lance L. Smith
Why are we just now learning Berg-beheading arrests were made a week ago?
Why are we just now learning Berg-beheading arrests were made a week ago?
We should be asking why it's taken so long to learn of these arrests. Something doesn't add up here. [LINK]
Another comment- This article claims Nick Berg's body was discovered May 8. I highly suspect the White House knew all about it. If not, we must wonder why, in this age of high technology, the communication between Iraqi officials and the White House is so poor. News of the beheading didn't reach the public until the infamous al-Qaeda-linked web-video on May 11th..the day of the Abu Ghraib hearings, when the news was used to "grandstand". (You may recall Senator Pat Roberts' dramatic reading from a report of the beheading at the May 11th Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the prison scandal). Was the news withheld for the political benefit of the GOP? Why should the death of Nick Berg represent a Republican's point of view...or anyone's point of view, for that matter?
We should be asking why it's taken so long to learn of these arrests. Something doesn't add up here. [LINK]
Another comment- This article claims Nick Berg's body was discovered May 8. I highly suspect the White House knew all about it. If not, we must wonder why, in this age of high technology, the communication between Iraqi officials and the White House is so poor. News of the beheading didn't reach the public until the infamous al-Qaeda-linked web-video on May 11th..the day of the Abu Ghraib hearings, when the news was used to "grandstand". (You may recall Senator Pat Roberts' dramatic reading from a report of the beheading at the May 11th Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the prison scandal). Was the news withheld for the political benefit of the GOP? Why should the death of Nick Berg represent a Republican's point of view...or anyone's point of view, for that matter?
How "Christian" is Zionism?
How "Christian" is Zionism?
Sojourners magazine begs the question. Theological professor Leslie C. Allen contrasts the Bible's Old Testament with the New Testament interpretations, providing us with an opportunity to decide for ourselves. [LINK]
Many U.S. evangelicals seek an 'even-handed' Middle East policy. [LINK]
Some in the Religious Right call Middle East Peace efforts "Satanic heresy." Donald Wagner, a professor of religion, gives us a look at the political and theological roots of Christian Zionism - and why it puts the world at risk. [LINK]
Sojourners magazine begs the question. Theological professor Leslie C. Allen contrasts the Bible's Old Testament with the New Testament interpretations, providing us with an opportunity to decide for ourselves. [LINK]
Many U.S. evangelicals seek an 'even-handed' Middle East policy. [LINK]
Some in the Religious Right call Middle East Peace efforts "Satanic heresy." Donald Wagner, a professor of religion, gives us a look at the political and theological roots of Christian Zionism - and why it puts the world at risk. [LINK]
This Week -A Bush/Kerry Summary
This Week-
A Bush/Kerry Summary
Bush lies divide America
"I don't think it's accurate to describe America as polarized between Democrats and Republicans, or between liberals and conservatives.It's polarized between the people who believe George Bush and the people who do not.."
From: Hal Crowther/Independent Weekly
Liberals show they can work together
From: Walter Shapiro/USA Today
Where's the Compassion, Conservatives?
From: Doug Griffin/Counterbias.com
House Approves $447 Billion in Spending for Military
From: NY Times
Bush spends like a drunken sailor
From: Daily Kos
Birds of a feather...
From: Daily Kos
Bush Holds Pep Rally For GOP Members
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Historians Take Dim View Of Bush
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Memories Good times, weren't they..Mrs. Bush applauds...
From: Eschaton
Speaker Pelosi Link: "Bush is an incompetent leader...."
From: Eschaton
Tell Dan Payne Why You Hate Bush
An email from Boston Globe columnist and political consultant Dan Payne: I'm considering writing about all the reasons Bush haters feel as we do. Would love to get your favorite dislikes about Bush, personal, political or policy, large or trivial....
From: Big, Left, Outside
Odds Now Against Bush
A new strategy memo from James Carville and Stan Greenberg says "the race for president has entered a new and distinct phase with Bush not only endangered... but now with the odds against him. He is more likely to lose than win.
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Conservative Base Is Cracking
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Bush to GAO: Faking the news to dupe seniors is wrong?
From: Kicking Ass
'Let America Be America Again'
The Wall Street Journal reports today (paid subscription only, unfortunately) that Kerry is trying out a new campaign theme: "Let America Be America Again." Poetry fans will remember that as the title of a Langston Hughes poem. ...
From: Change for America
Dead Heat In Florida
President Bush and Sen. John Kerry "remain tied among likely voters in Florida," according to a new American Research Group poll.
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Bush Leads in the South
An Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll looked at Southerners' voting intentions and found that, if the election were held today, President Bush would beat Sen. John Kerry by 15 points.
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Kerry Meets Nader
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Bush World
New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd is publishing her first book, according to a press release. Bushworld: Enter at Your Own Risk
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Rowland Bumped By Bush Campaign
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Iraq: Nick Berg Met with 'Shady' Iraqi
*who appeared frequently on major media outlets like Fox News Channel calling for the military ouster of Saddam Hussein
From: Philadelphia Inquirer
Kerry Has Small Lead Over Bush In New Jersey
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Ground Zero volunteers pay for Bush's lie
From: Kicking Ass
Kerry Leads In Web Traffic
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Hello, Kettle? It's Pot Speaking.
President Bush called on Israel on Wednesday to exercise restraint in Gaza and to respect "innocent life" after Israeli tanks and helicopters fired on protesters...
From: Change for America
Grand Old Petroleum
The price of gas is going up, up, up, and Bush is doing nothing — despite his campaign promises. From: Kicking Ass
Compare and Contrast
From: Change for America
Bush Leads In Texas
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Bush's Leadership Style Questioned
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
The Army Brought Down McCarthy, Will It Bring Down Bush?
The infamous Senator Joe McCarthy rode roughshod over every American institution during his "Red Witch Hunt" until, in his ignorant arrogance, he went after the U. S. Army...
From: The LongBow Papers
Edwards Could Tip North Carolina For Kerry
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Do You Think Dubya Has The Smarts To Know It's Endgame?
From: The LongBow Papers
Truth in the NYT Tee Hee
From: Eschaton
Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them
Locked in Abu Ghraib The prison scandal keeps getting worse for the Bush administration.The White House is about to get hit by the biggest tsunami since the Iran-Contra affair, maybe since Watergate.
From: Prometheus 6
Holy sh*t-An e-mail we weren't meant to see
That was not an exclamation of surprise. It was a description of the situation. Bush White House checked with rapture Christians before latest Israel move..
From: Prometheus 6
Kerry Still Battles Kucinich
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
The Timken Tall Tale
Ripping off CAP:On 4/23/03 President Bush visited the Timken Company...
From: Daily Kos
Dubya, The Wastrel Son
I could not pass up blogging Paul Krugman's column in today's The New York Times if for no other reason than its title, "The Wastrel Son." You get three guesses as to which wastrel son he's writing about, and the first two don't count.
From: The LongBow Papers
Payback Time For Rumsfeld
UPI has bad news for Bush adminstration officials who have tried "to contain the Iraq prison torture scandal and limit the blame to a handful of enlisted soldiers and immediate senior officers."
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Kerry Veep Pick Could Come Shortly
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Bush Leads In Negative Ads
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Kerry's Iraq Problem
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Bush praises activist judges
From: Daily Kos
A Bush/Kerry Summary
Bush lies divide America
"I don't think it's accurate to describe America as polarized between Democrats and Republicans, or between liberals and conservatives.It's polarized between the people who believe George Bush and the people who do not.."
From: Hal Crowther/Independent Weekly
Liberals show they can work together
From: Walter Shapiro/USA Today
Where's the Compassion, Conservatives?
From: Doug Griffin/Counterbias.com
House Approves $447 Billion in Spending for Military
From: NY Times
Bush spends like a drunken sailor
From: Daily Kos
Birds of a feather...
From: Daily Kos
Bush Holds Pep Rally For GOP Members
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Historians Take Dim View Of Bush
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Memories Good times, weren't they..Mrs. Bush applauds...
From: Eschaton
Speaker Pelosi Link: "Bush is an incompetent leader...."
From: Eschaton
Tell Dan Payne Why You Hate Bush
An email from Boston Globe columnist and political consultant Dan Payne: I'm considering writing about all the reasons Bush haters feel as we do. Would love to get your favorite dislikes about Bush, personal, political or policy, large or trivial....
From: Big, Left, Outside
Odds Now Against Bush
A new strategy memo from James Carville and Stan Greenberg says "the race for president has entered a new and distinct phase with Bush not only endangered... but now with the odds against him. He is more likely to lose than win.
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Conservative Base Is Cracking
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Bush to GAO: Faking the news to dupe seniors is wrong?
From: Kicking Ass
'Let America Be America Again'
The Wall Street Journal reports today (paid subscription only, unfortunately) that Kerry is trying out a new campaign theme: "Let America Be America Again." Poetry fans will remember that as the title of a Langston Hughes poem. ...
From: Change for America
Dead Heat In Florida
President Bush and Sen. John Kerry "remain tied among likely voters in Florida," according to a new American Research Group poll.
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Bush Leads in the South
An Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll looked at Southerners' voting intentions and found that, if the election were held today, President Bush would beat Sen. John Kerry by 15 points.
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Kerry Meets Nader
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Bush World
New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd is publishing her first book, according to a press release. Bushworld: Enter at Your Own Risk
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Rowland Bumped By Bush Campaign
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Iraq: Nick Berg Met with 'Shady' Iraqi
*who appeared frequently on major media outlets like Fox News Channel calling for the military ouster of Saddam Hussein
From: Philadelphia Inquirer
Kerry Has Small Lead Over Bush In New Jersey
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Ground Zero volunteers pay for Bush's lie
From: Kicking Ass
Kerry Leads In Web Traffic
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Hello, Kettle? It's Pot Speaking.
President Bush called on Israel on Wednesday to exercise restraint in Gaza and to respect "innocent life" after Israeli tanks and helicopters fired on protesters...
From: Change for America
Grand Old Petroleum
The price of gas is going up, up, up, and Bush is doing nothing — despite his campaign promises. From: Kicking Ass
Compare and Contrast
From: Change for America
Bush Leads In Texas
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Bush's Leadership Style Questioned
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
The Army Brought Down McCarthy, Will It Bring Down Bush?
The infamous Senator Joe McCarthy rode roughshod over every American institution during his "Red Witch Hunt" until, in his ignorant arrogance, he went after the U. S. Army...
From: The LongBow Papers
Edwards Could Tip North Carolina For Kerry
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Do You Think Dubya Has The Smarts To Know It's Endgame?
From: The LongBow Papers
Truth in the NYT Tee Hee
From: Eschaton
Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them
Locked in Abu Ghraib The prison scandal keeps getting worse for the Bush administration.The White House is about to get hit by the biggest tsunami since the Iran-Contra affair, maybe since Watergate.
From: Prometheus 6
Holy sh*t-An e-mail we weren't meant to see
That was not an exclamation of surprise. It was a description of the situation. Bush White House checked with rapture Christians before latest Israel move..
From: Prometheus 6
Kerry Still Battles Kucinich
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
The Timken Tall Tale
Ripping off CAP:On 4/23/03 President Bush visited the Timken Company...
From: Daily Kos
Dubya, The Wastrel Son
I could not pass up blogging Paul Krugman's column in today's The New York Times if for no other reason than its title, "The Wastrel Son." You get three guesses as to which wastrel son he's writing about, and the first two don't count.
From: The LongBow Papers
Payback Time For Rumsfeld
UPI has bad news for Bush adminstration officials who have tried "to contain the Iraq prison torture scandal and limit the blame to a handful of enlisted soldiers and immediate senior officers."
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Kerry Veep Pick Could Come Shortly
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Bush Leads In Negative Ads
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Kerry's Iraq Problem
From: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Bush praises activist judges
From: Daily Kos
Saturday, May 15, 2004
Good reading
Good reading
I'll be taking a break a few days. For some excellent reading, this is always a great bet:
My Kos diary is HERE.
My latest on Kos:
Zell Miller Haiku
Zell Miller helps Bush
Gives John Kerry big black eye
Smell Elephant dung?
Talk to you soon.
I'll be taking a break a few days. For some excellent reading, this is always a great bet:
My Kos diary is HERE.
My latest on Kos:
Zell Miller Haiku
Zell Miller helps Bush
Gives John Kerry big black eye
Smell Elephant dung?
Talk to you soon.
Michael Savage-Loose Cannon
Michael Savage-Loose Cannon
Savage: Arabs are "non-humans" and "racist, fascist bigots"
At Intl News (May 15th archive), there are excerpts from Michael Savage's May 11 and May 12 radio show, Savage Nation highlighting his views of Arabs, immigrants, etc. In the course of the shows, Savage called Arabs "non-humans" and "racist, fascist bigots"; asserted that Americans would like to "drop a nuclear weapon" on any Arab country; and that "these people" in the Middle East "need to be forcibly converted to Christianity" in order to "turn them into human beings." Savage also claimed that, in the United States, "You can never hear about the bad things they [minorities] do"...and more.
Here, my dear readers, is one ignorant human being. We only have to thank the fates that a man like him never reaches the handle of real power.....
Then again...is control of the airwaves of AM radio/mainstream media NOT representative of power?
Perhaps the sane amongst you should write a letter to your local radio station currently airing Mr. Savage's spewfest...unless you agree with him.
Look at what he's getting away with at your apathetic expense:
Savage on Arabs:
From the May 12 Savage Nation:
Right now, even people sitting on the fence would like George Bush to drop a nuclear weapon on an Arab country. They don't even care which one it would be. I can guarantee you -- I don't need to go to Mr. Schmuck [pollster John] Zogby and ask him his opinion. I don't need anyone's opinion. I'll give you my opinion, because I got a better stethoscope than those fools. It's one man's opinion based upon my own analysis. The most -- I tell you right now -- the largest percentage of Americans would like to see a nuclear weapon dropped on a major Arab capital. They don't even care which one. They'd like an indiscriminate use of a nuclear weapon. They want this over with. One thing people cannot live with, which is an undefined, limitless conflict, which is what we have now. They can't take it. They want this war over with, and they want it ended like the war against Japan. They'd like Big Boy dropped on one of the little cities over there. They don't care where. They don't care any more. The American people have had it up to here with this garbage.
In fact, Christianity has been one of the great salvations on planet Earth. It's what's necessary in the Middle East. Others have written about it, I think these people need to be forcibly converted to Christianity but I'll get here a little later, I'll move up to that. It's the only thing that can probably turn them into human beings.
I'm going to give you one further example from my background as an anthropologist just so that you -- I'm trying to put context on this because you can go crazy if you don't have the context on this, because I'm going to lead up to something of what we must do to these primitives. Because these primitives can only be treated in one way, and I don't think smallpox and a blanket is good enough incidentally. Just before -- I'm going to give you a little precursor to where I'm going. Smallpox in a blanket, which the U.S. Army gave to the Cherokee Indians on their long march to the West, was nothing compared to what I'd like to see done to these people, just so you understand that I'm not going to be too intellectual about my analysis here in terms of what I would recommend, what Doc Savage recommends as an antidote to this kind of poison coming out of the Middle East from these non-humans.
Savage on minorities:
From the May 12 Savage Nation:
And as the churches have been emptying out, the mosques have been filling up, in France and Germany. We all know that but we're all looking other way. And now street gangs of young Muslims are beating up and killing people in France and of course you don't read about that either. Because during a revolutionary period you've got to understand that there's a story line and the storyline is they're the oppressed minority and therefore they can do no wrong. . You can never hear about the bad things they do. It's hush-hush but if a Timothy McVeigh should come along, then it gets front page coverage. Because the story line goes that white male, Christian, heterosexuals are evil and all of the others are -- are -- are victims and only getting their just rewards by fighting back.
It's very much like the American minorities here in this country
Savage: Arabs are "non-humans" and "racist, fascist bigots"
At Intl News (May 15th archive), there are excerpts from Michael Savage's May 11 and May 12 radio show, Savage Nation highlighting his views of Arabs, immigrants, etc. In the course of the shows, Savage called Arabs "non-humans" and "racist, fascist bigots"; asserted that Americans would like to "drop a nuclear weapon" on any Arab country; and that "these people" in the Middle East "need to be forcibly converted to Christianity" in order to "turn them into human beings." Savage also claimed that, in the United States, "You can never hear about the bad things they [minorities] do"...and more.
Here, my dear readers, is one ignorant human being. We only have to thank the fates that a man like him never reaches the handle of real power.....
Then again...is control of the airwaves of AM radio/mainstream media NOT representative of power?
Perhaps the sane amongst you should write a letter to your local radio station currently airing Mr. Savage's spewfest...unless you agree with him.
Look at what he's getting away with at your apathetic expense:
Savage on Arabs:
From the May 12 Savage Nation:
Right now, even people sitting on the fence would like George Bush to drop a nuclear weapon on an Arab country. They don't even care which one it would be. I can guarantee you -- I don't need to go to Mr. Schmuck [pollster John] Zogby and ask him his opinion. I don't need anyone's opinion. I'll give you my opinion, because I got a better stethoscope than those fools. It's one man's opinion based upon my own analysis. The most -- I tell you right now -- the largest percentage of Americans would like to see a nuclear weapon dropped on a major Arab capital. They don't even care which one. They'd like an indiscriminate use of a nuclear weapon. They want this over with. One thing people cannot live with, which is an undefined, limitless conflict, which is what we have now. They can't take it. They want this war over with, and they want it ended like the war against Japan. They'd like Big Boy dropped on one of the little cities over there. They don't care where. They don't care any more. The American people have had it up to here with this garbage.
In fact, Christianity has been one of the great salvations on planet Earth. It's what's necessary in the Middle East. Others have written about it, I think these people need to be forcibly converted to Christianity but I'll get here a little later, I'll move up to that. It's the only thing that can probably turn them into human beings.
I'm going to give you one further example from my background as an anthropologist just so that you -- I'm trying to put context on this because you can go crazy if you don't have the context on this, because I'm going to lead up to something of what we must do to these primitives. Because these primitives can only be treated in one way, and I don't think smallpox and a blanket is good enough incidentally. Just before -- I'm going to give you a little precursor to where I'm going. Smallpox in a blanket, which the U.S. Army gave to the Cherokee Indians on their long march to the West, was nothing compared to what I'd like to see done to these people, just so you understand that I'm not going to be too intellectual about my analysis here in terms of what I would recommend, what Doc Savage recommends as an antidote to this kind of poison coming out of the Middle East from these non-humans.
Savage on minorities:
From the May 12 Savage Nation:
And as the churches have been emptying out, the mosques have been filling up, in France and Germany. We all know that but we're all looking other way. And now street gangs of young Muslims are beating up and killing people in France and of course you don't read about that either. Because during a revolutionary period you've got to understand that there's a story line and the storyline is they're the oppressed minority and therefore they can do no wrong. . You can never hear about the bad things they do. It's hush-hush but if a Timothy McVeigh should come along, then it gets front page coverage. Because the story line goes that white male, Christian, heterosexuals are evil and all of the others are -- are -- are victims and only getting their just rewards by fighting back.
It's very much like the American minorities here in this country
Zell Miller attacks Kerry at Bush fundraiser
Zell Miller attacks Kerry at Bush fundraiser
Let's face it, people. Zell Miller is campaigning for George Bush and he ought to take off the cloak of the Democratic party because he's staining it with grassroots elephant-dung.
Miller, the lone Democratic senator publicly backing Bush, commented in remarks prepared for a Bush-Cheney grassroots event, held in conjunction with the state Republican convention.
[LINK]
Let's face it, people. Zell Miller is campaigning for George Bush and he ought to take off the cloak of the Democratic party because he's staining it with grassroots elephant-dung.
Miller, the lone Democratic senator publicly backing Bush, commented in remarks prepared for a Bush-Cheney grassroots event, held in conjunction with the state Republican convention.
[LINK]
Bush tax cut losing charm with fuel price hikes
Bush tax cut losing charm with fuel price hikes
"Each $10 per barrel increase in crude prices is like a $70 billion tax
increase on American consumers, levied through inflation."
From Paul Krugman N.Y. Times
[LINK]
Oil prices soared to a record Thursday on the New York Mercantile Exchange, crossing $41 a barrel and settling at the highest point in the 21-year-history of crude futures trading in New York.
[LINK]
"Each $10 per barrel increase in crude prices is like a $70 billion tax
increase on American consumers, levied through inflation."
From Paul Krugman N.Y. Times
[LINK]
Oil prices soared to a record Thursday on the New York Mercantile Exchange, crossing $41 a barrel and settling at the highest point in the 21-year-history of crude futures trading in New York.
[LINK]
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