Digby Brings It All Together

Don't miss this Digby post on Hullabaloo. It is extremely well written and clearly identifies just how fucked up American politics are right now.

My prediction is the next vice president will be a busy person. I mean a president from either party because, although I would prefer a Democrat, I have faith many Republicans could do a far better job than Bush of running this country.

The new vice president will be busy as hell because the president will be far too busy trying to undo what Bush has ruined. The president will have to re-establish the Constitution and Bill of Rights, stop spying on Americans, stop torturing as common practice, deal with golbal warming and Medicare, figure out how to pay off the huge accumulated debt and kill tax advantages to the wealthy and subsidies to profiteering energy companies. All that and I haven't mentioned securing our ports. The list is effectively endless and a reasonable executive has to correct it all.

Without such corrections, America will cease to exist. That isn't alarmist talk, it's a fact our democracy can't survive without our ideals and fundamental beliefs. Our debt will sink us. Of course none of that matters if we can't control global warming. Some say "save the planet". Not necessary. Global warming won't kill the planet. Earth will survive. We won't.

Start Them Young

A teacher at Overland High School in Aurora, Colorado has been placed on unpaid leave for remarks he made to his world geography class. I'll get to the remarks shortly. I do want to point out the school will probably lose this teacher if this leave lasts very long. The guy can't have a ton of money in the bank. Unpaid leave wasn't justified. He deserved a slap on the wrist and a lecture about just what is expected of him in his classroom. I'm assuming here that he doesn't do this on a regular basis and hasn't been admonished before.

Now on to the remarks. He was discussing the SOTU address

"Sounds a lot like the things that Adolf Hitler used to say," [Jay] Bennish told students at the suburban high school. "We're the only ones who are right, everyone else is backward, and our job is to conquer the world."

There's more, much more. I agree with most of what he said and usually voice my opinion in much stronger terms. The teacher pointed out he wasn't equating Bush with Hitler. I would do something like that.

However, Bennish could have toned it down a little bit. He was only trying to get the kids to think for themselves which is admirable, but Adolf Hitler never goes over too well in some settings.

Now, burying the lede, here is the reason for the title.

Sean Allen, a sophomore in the class, had recorded the lecture on an MP3 player, and this week turned it over to a local conservative radio show.

The little shit recorded Bennish's lecture and then went to a conservative radio program with it.

I might cut the kid some slack if he had gone to the principal and the incident could have been handled discreetly, but Sean blew the thing wide open. He's gonna make a great little neo-con.

Nuclear Weapons Are Good

The Bush administration has a bad habit of moving the goalposts. Now its that little item called nuclear disarmament.

Although the term "nuclear disarmament" quietly disappeared from the Bush administration's vocabulary long ago, the statement by Linton Brooks, head [of]the National Nuclear Security Administration, marked the first time a top government official publicly acknowledged a goal enshrined in key international documents will no longer be pursued.

"The United States will, for the foreseeable future, need to retain both nuclear forces and the capabilities to sustain and modernize those forces," Brooks stated Friday as he addressed the East Tennessee Economic Council in the city of Oak Ridge, which is home to a major nuclear weapons complex.

"I do not see any chance of the political conditions for abolition arising in my lifetime, nor do I think abolition could be verified if it were negotiated," he pointed out.

Bush doesn't want it so he just won't persue it.

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Wal-Mart To Stock Plan Be Emergency Contraceptive

This just in from TIME online.

Wal-Mart, a company better known for its conservative sensibilities, handed a victory to (sic) pro-abortion-rights groups today with its decision to begin stocking the Plan B emergency contraceptive, also known as the “morning-after pill,” in all of its 4,000 pharmacies in the U.S., starting March 20.

What I don't understand is why The article says it is a victory to pro-abortion-rights groups. First of all, I hate that term. They are pro-choice groups. Back to my question. If this medicine is an emergency contraceptive, how can it be an abortive medicine?

Just because some fudamentalists say taking the medication causes an abortion doesn't make it so. The medicine does inhibit a fertilized egg from implanting itself in the uterus, which the article does mention, but go read Merriam-Webster's definition. Without implantation there can be no abortion.

This Will Be Tough To Live Down

The guy must be taking some real kidding around town.

A 16-year-old girl is being recommended for a national bravery award after she rescued her father from a violent bull attack by kicking and punching it in the nose.

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Eminent Domain For Wal-Mart In LA

Don't say bloggers didn't warn you. Several told you to work locally to protect yourself from eminent domain when the Connecticut city of New London vs Susette Kelo went before the US Supreme Court which ruled the city could take Kelo's land under eminent domain.

But they didn't listen in Los Angeles. And now several urban farmers are losing the land they farm because Wal-Mart wants it.

If its not too late, here's a resource to help fight Wal-Mart.

For those of you outside California, here's a resource for you.

This via Boing Boing which has links to the farm's website, a copy of the eviction notice and the mayor.s email address.

Missed This One

Not sure how this matter slipped under the radar, but it did.

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (AP) - A former executive for a company hired by a Halliburton Co. subsidiary to ship military cargo into Iraq has pleaded guilty to inflating invoices by $1.14 million US to cover fraudulent surcharges.

Christopher Cahill pleaded guilty Thursday [February 16, 2006] in federal court in Rock Island, where the Army Field Support Command that administered the contract is located. Cahill, 51, of Katy, Texas, was a regional vice-president based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for Eagle Global Logistics, a Houston-based company that won a war contract from Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg, Brown & Root [KBR] in 2002, according to court papers.

Isn't it funny...or not, how several things keep intersecting? Halliburton, KBR, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Texas, fraud and the US military are all accounted for in this little story.

Caught With Pants Down

She should have thought this out a little further.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office just announced that it has arrested the woman who claimed she was raped by several men who work at Walt Disney World. They say the woman made up the story, and that the sex was consensual.

(snip)

The suspects in the alleged attacks were cooperative with the investigation from its onset to the point of providing a video tape of the incident, which helped corroborate their account of the incident.

Jeez, you would think someone wouldn't lie if they knew there was taped evidence to contradict them, right?

Unless you're dumb-as-a-Styrofoam(TM)-cup President Bush.

So Very True

In speaking out against the current Patriot Act which was passed by the Senate and now goes to the House, Senator Russ Feingold (D-BALLS) had this to say.

"Without freedom, we are not America."

I have nothing to add.

Our Opinions Don't Matter

Two out of three Americans are opposed to the ports sale to UAE. Oh well, its not like this is a democracy where the will of the people matters.

Gallup follows up with other good questions. Click on over.

Bush's Lapdog

Just a couple headlines for now.

New laws on spying unneeded, Frist says.

Frist insists drug plan ‘a huge plus’ for GOP.

If Frist is your representative, aren't you concerned he can't have an independent thot? Anyone could rubber stamp the idiot's programs.

Great quote: If you always agree with me, one of us is not necessary.

Way Too Wrong

All you have to do is look at this site and you'll see this is bullshit.

It may seem a little hard to believe, but New Yorkers are being honored for, of all things, their good manners.

I like New Yorkers but they aren't well mannered, usually. They'll tell you to fuck yourself before saying no thank you.

I had a friend who moved to New York and she was surprised/shocked when she would say thank you and the person she was saying it to would get angry. They thot she was being a smart ass.

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Duck You Dems

What most of us think put into polite words. OK, not so polite.

Scum-sucking traitors to their country -- The next time some loudmouth partisan puke Democrat gets in my face and starts yapping about how much better things would be if his party were running things in Washington, I'm going to pull out the vote tally sheet for the USA Patriot Act in Thursday's Senate session and ram it down his lying throat.

Too much snark? Not so much.

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Hey Hummelstown

Thanx for your visits. I have noticed.

Bush To Startle US

I have to admit I don't trust anything coming out of Bush's mouth. We can only hope his remarks about weaning US off oil are true. More efficient batteries will provide safe, clean energy for automobiles, but why should we believe we're there?

Saying that the nation was on the verge of technological breakthroughs that would “startle” most Americans, President Bush on Monday outlined plans to wean the country off foreign oil.

Less than half the crude oil used by refineries is produced in the United States, Bush said in the first stop on a two-day trip to talk about energy.

Some foreign suppliers have “unstable” governments that have fundamental differences with America, he said.

Bush is focusing on energy at a time when Americans are paying more to heat their homes and have only recently seen gas prices fall.

One of Bush’s proposals would expand research into smaller, longer-lasting batteries for electric-gas hybrid cars, including plug-ins. He highlighted that initiative with a visit Monday to the battery center at Milwaukee-based auto-parts supplier Johnson Controls Inc.

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Bush Is Shit

OK, maybe not really, but he's not much better. It seems McCain's little bill carries no weight with our dear leader.

In federal court yesterday and in legal filings, Justice Department lawyers contended that a detainee at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, cannot use legislation drafted by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) to challenge treatment that the detainee’s lawyers described as “systematic torture.”

Jesus Christ on a crutch, how can this idiot be stopped? Congress has no power over him and he ignores the courts. What is the difference between Bush and Hitler? I can't see any.

Oops. Forgot to credit Truthdig.

Let's Be Reasonable Here

Soon people who use asthma inhalers will have to pay more. Why? Because those tiny inhalers are destroying the ozone layer. Huh?

Asthma sufferers will soon be paying more for increasingly scarce emergency inhalers as part of the price of protecting the environment.

By the end of 2008, the government says, the makers of albuterol “rescue” inhalers — used by millions of people to reopen airways during asthma attacks — will have to stop using the ozone-destroying chlorofluorocarbon propellants that power the devices.

Come on idiots, lawnmowers cause more damage.

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The Great Molly Ivins

I am a total fan of Molly. She is a true Texan which means she cuts through the bullshit and tells the truth.

Read her latest.

Port Deal And Why It Sucks

Here is a list of countries we have fought in world wars or other confrontations since 1904. Could have gone back to England, but to no purpose.

The point is, any country can be an enemy at any time. We cannot allow a foreign country to control anything vital to US survival. I hope you can read this. It is taken from a table which didn't translate well. Interestingly enough, this list includes America.

Folks, anything is reversible. Take back control of US ports.

KOREA 1904-05 Troops Marines land in Russo-Japanese War.
CUBA 1906-09 Troops Marines land in democratic election.
NICARAGUA 1907 Troops "Dollar Diplomacy" protectorate set up.
HONDURAS 1907 Troops Marines land during war with Nicaragua
PANAMA 1908 Troops Marines intervene in election contest.
NICARAGUA 1910 Troops Marines land in Bluefields and Corinto.
HONDURAS 1911 Troops U.S. interests protected in civil war.
CHINA 1911-41 Naval, troops Continuous occupation with flare-ups.
CUBA 1912 Troops U.S. interests protected in civil war.
PANAMA 1912 Troops Marines land during heated election.
HONDURAS 1912 Troops Marines protect U.S. economic interests.
NICARAGUA 1912-33 Troops, bombing 10-year occupation, fought guerillas
MEXICO 1913 Naval Americans evacuated during revolution.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 1914 Naval Fight with rebels over Santo Domingo.
COLORADO 1914 Troops Breaking of miners' strike by Army.
MEXICO 1914-18 Naval, troops Series of interventions against nationalists.
HAITI 1914-34 Troops, bombing 19-year occupation after revolts.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 1916-24 Troops 8-year Marine occupation.
CUBA 1917-33 Troops Military occupation, economic protectorate.
WORLD WAR I 1917-18 Naval, troops Ships sunk, fought Germany for 1 1/2 years.
RUSSIA 1918-22 Naval, troops Five landings to fight Bolsheviks
PANAMA 1918-20 Troops "Police duty" during unrest after elections.
HONDURAS 1919 Troops Marines land during election campaign.
YUGOSLAVIA 1919 Troops/Marines intervene for Italy against Serbs in Dalmatia.
GUATEMALA 1920 Troops 2-week intervention against unionists.
WEST VIRGINIA 1920-21 Troops, bombing Army intervenes against mineworkers.
TURKEY 1922 Troops Fought nationalists in Smyrna.
CHINA 1922-27 Naval, troops Deployment during nationalist revolt.
HONDURAS 1924-25 Troops Landed twice during election strife.
PANAMA 1925 Troops Marines suppress general strike.
CHINA 1927-34 Troops Marines stationed throughout the country.
EL SALVADOR 1932 Naval Warships send during Marti revolt.
WASHINGTON DC 1932 Troops Army stops WWI vet bonus protest.
WORLD WAR II 1941-45 Naval, troops, bombing, nuclear Hawaii bombed, fought Japan, Italy and Germay for 3 years; first nuclear war.
DETROIT 1943 Troops Army put down Black rebellion.
IRAN 1946 Nuclear threat Soviet troops told to leave north.
YUGOSLAVIA 1946 Nuclear threat, naval Response to shoot-down of US plane.
URUGUAY 1947 Nuclear threat Bombers deployed as show of strength.
GREECE 1947-49 Command operation U.S. directs extreme-right in civil war.
GERMANY 1948 Nuclear Threat Atomic-capable bombers guard Berlin Airlift.
CHINA 1948-49 Troops/Marines evacuate Americans before Communist victory.
PHILIPPINES 1948-54 Command operation CIA directs war against Huk Rebellion.
PUERTO RICO 1950 Command operation Independence rebellion crushed in Ponce.
KOREA 1951-53 (-?) Troops, naval, bombing , nuclear threats U.S./So. Korea fights China/No. Korea to stalemate; A-bomb threat in 1950, and against China in 1953. Still have bases.
IRAN 1953 Command Operation CIA overthrows democracy, installs Shah.
VIETNAM 1954 Nuclear threat French offered bombs to use against seige.
GUATEMALA 1954 Command operation, bombing, nuclear threat CIA directs exile invasion after new gov't nationalized U.S. company lands; bombers based in Nicaragua.
EGYPT 1956 Nuclear threat, troops Soviets told to keep out of Suez crisis; Marines evacuate foreigners.
LEBANON l958 Troops, naval Marine occupation against rebels.
IRAQ 1958 Nuclear threat Iraq warned against invading Kuwait.
CHINA l958 Nuclear threat China told not to move on Taiwan isles.
PANAMA 1958 Troops Flag protests erupt into confrontation.
VIETNAM l960-75 Troops, naval, bombing, nuclear threats Fought South Vietnam revolt & North Vietnam; one million killed in longest U.S. war; atomic bomb threats in l968 and l969.
LAOS 1962 Command operation Military buildup during guerrilla war.
CUBA l961 Command operation CIA-directed exile invasion fails.
GERMANY l961 Nuclear threat Alert during Berlin Wall crisis.
CUBA l962 Nuclear threat, naval Blockade during missile crisis; near-war with Soviet Union.
PANAMA l964 Troops Panamanians shot for urging canal's return.
INDONESIA l965 Command operation Million killed in CIA-assisted army coup.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 1965-66 Troops, bombing Marines land during election campaign.
GUATEMALA l966-67 Command operation Green Berets intervene against rebels.
DETROIT l967 Troops Army battles African Americans, 43 killed.
UNITED STATES l968 Troops After King is shot; over 21,000 soldiers in cities.
CAMBODIA l969-75 Bombing, troops, naval Up to 2 million killed in decade of bombing, starvation, and political chaos.
OMAN l970 Command operation U.S. directs Iranian marine invasion.
LAOS l971-73 Command operation, bombing U.S. directs South Vietnamese invasion; "carpet-bombs" countryside.
SOUTH DAKOTA l973 Command operation Army directs Wounded Knee siege of Lakotas.
MIDEAST 1973 Nuclear threat World-wide alert during Mideast War.
CHILE 1973 Command operation CIA-backed coup ousts elected marxist president.
CAMBODIA l975 Troops, bombing Gas captured ship, 28 die in copter crash.
ANGOLA l976-92 Command operation CIA assists South African-backed rebels.
IRAN l980 Troops, nuclear threat, aborted bombing Raid to rescue Embassy hostages; 8 troops die in copter-plane crash. Soviets warned not to get involved in revolution.
LIBYA l981 Naval jets Two Libyan jets shot down in maneuvers.
EL SALVADOR l981-92 Command operation, troops Advisors, overflights aid anti-rebel war, soldiers briefly involved in hostage clash.
NICARAGUA l981-90 Command operation, naval CIA directs exile (Contra) invasions, plants harbor mines against revolution.
LEBANON l982-84 Naval, bombing, troops Marines expel PLO and back Phalangists, Navy bombs and shells Muslim positions.
GRENADA l983-84 Troops, bombing Invasion four years after revolution.
HONDURAS l983-89 Troops Maneuvers help build bases near borders.
IRAN l984 Jets Two Iranian jets shot down over Persian Gulf.
LIBYA l986 Bombing, naval Air strikes to topple nationalist gov't.
BOLIVIA 1986 Troops Army assists raids on cocaine region.
IRAN l987-88 Naval, bombing US intervenes on side of Iraq in war.
LIBYA 1989 Naval jets Two Libyan jets shot down.
VIRGIN ISLANDS 1989 Troops St. Croix Black unrest after storm.
PHILIPPINES 1989 Jets Air cover provided for government against coup.
PANAMA 1989 (-?) Troops, bombing Nationalist government ousted by 27,000 soldiers, leaders arrested, 2000+ killed.
LIBERIA 1990 Troops Foreigners evacuated during civil war.
SAUDI ARABIA 1990-91 Troops, jets Iraq countered after invading Kuwait. 540,000 troops also stationed in Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, UAE, Israel.
IRAQ 1990-? Bombing, troops, naval Blockade of Iraqi and Jordanian ports, air strikes; 200,000+ killed in invasion of Iraq and Kuwait; no-fly zone over Kurdish north, Shiite south, large-scale destruction of Iraqi military.
KUWAIT 1991 Naval, bombing, troops Kuwait royal family returned to throne.
LOS ANGELES 1992 Troops Army, Marines deployed against anti-police uprising.
SOMALIA 1992-94 Troops, naval, bombing U.S.-led United Nations occupation during civil war; raids against one Mogadishu faction.
YUGOSLAVIA 1992-94 Naval NATO blockade of Serbia and Montenegro.
BOSNIA 1993-? Jets, bombing No-fly zone patrolled in civil war; downed jets, bombed Serbs.
HAITI 1994 Troops, naval Blockade against military government; troops restore President Aristide to office three years after coup.
ZAIRE (CONGO) 1996-97 Troops Marines at Rwandan Hutu refugee camps, in area where Congo revolution begins.
LIBERIA 1997 Troops Soldiers under fire during evacuation of foreigners.
ALBANIA 1997 Troops Soldiers under fire during evacuation of foreigners.
SUDAN 1998 Missiles Attack on pharmaceutical plant alleged to be "terrorist" nerve gas plant.
AFGHANISTAN 1998 Missiles Attack on former CIA training camps used by Islamic fundamentalist groups alleged to have attacked embassies.
IRAQ 1998-? Bombing, Missiles Four days of intensive air strikes after weapons inspectors allege Iraqi obstructions.
YUGOSLAVIA 1999 Bombing, Missiles Heavy NATO air strikes after Serbia declines to withdraw from Kosovo. NATO occupation of Kosovo.
YEMEN 2000 Naval USS Cole, docked in Aden, bombed.
MACEDONIA 2001 Troops NATO forces deployed to move and disarm Albanian rebels.
UNITED STATES 2001 Jets, naval Reaction to hijacker attacks on New York, DC
AFGHANISTAN 2001-? Troops, bombing, missiles Massive U.S. mobilization to overthrow Taliban, hunt Al Qaeda fighters, install Karzai regime, and battle Taliban insurgency.
YEMEN 2002 Missiles Predator drone missile attack on Al Qaeda, including a US citizen.
PHILIPPINES 2002-? Troops, naval Training mission for Philippine military fighting Abu Sayyaf rebels evolves into US combat missions in Sulu Archipelago next to Mindanao.
COLOMBIA 2003-? Troops US special forces sent to rebel zone to back up Colombian military protecting oil pipeline.
IRAQ 2003-? Troops, naval, bombing, missiles Saddam regime toppled in Baghdad. US and UK forces occupy country and battle Sunni and Shi'ite insurgencies. Clashes on border with Syria.
LIBERIA 2003 Troops Brief involvement in peacekeeping force as rebels drove out leader.
HAITI 2004-05 Troops, naval Marines land after rebels oust elected President Aristide, who was advised to leave by Washington.
PAKISTAN 2005-? Missiles, covert operation CIA airstrikes on Al Qaeda refuge villages kill civilians

New Milestone

I started this blog on January 23, 2006 so it's a little over one month old. Spiiderweb has just hit 300 visits. Some quite long with views of many pages.

Thanx to everyone. Obviously I couldn't have done it without you. Special thanx to those of you who come back again and again. Now if you would just start commenting I would be in heaven. Next update will be at 500 visits. Can't wait for that. Or you can click on my SiteMeter icon at the bottom of the page (a little multi-coloured box) and see where things stand.

The great thing is I've had visitors from more than 31 different countries and all continents. That's really exciting.

Merci beucoup, Domo arigato, Ghu long khu me-ah, Saeamat kimo, Dank je, Imbuya mono, Danke, Efcharisto, Gum xia, Kam sia, Takk, Salamat, Ashi, Nandi and Tapadh leat.

If your language is not included I'm sorry. Can't cover all forms of thank you.

Ports Deal Will Happen

It appears lawmakers have given up hope of stopping UAE from taking over management of several major US ports on Thursday.

They conceded, however, that they are powerless to prevent the sale from going forward, and placed their hope in an 11th-hour intervention by US President George W. Bush.

Fat chance. Bush has said all along he will veto any bill designed to stop the deal. And now there's no time to draft and pass such a bill anyway.

"While the administration has agreed to a 45-day review of the transaction, it appears that once the sale closes on March 2, the administration may lose its legal authority to block it," Senator Hillary Clinton's office said on her website

.
So what was the point of the 45-day review? Sounds pretty moot to me.

But not to worry. It seems lawmakers are closing the barn door. Won't be any more horses getting out.

Representative Sherrod Brown said lawmakers at this point were looking ahead.

"We want to make sure that these kinds of mistakes don't happen again," he said, touting legislation he has sponsored requiring a systematic homeland security review of future major trade agreements.

Lawmakers in both parties and in both chambers of Congress have introduced, or planned to introduce, a variety of measures to ensure that port sales or management changes from now on are subject to rigorous oversight.

I'm sorry but I don't think in this case better late than never applies. Gawd I hope I'm wrong.

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US Diplomat Killed By Car Bomb In Karachi

_41392118_burning203afp
Originally uploaded by spiiderweb.

Lest anyone forget. The US has another little conflict going on.

On Thursday, a car bomb took the life of a US diplomat and at least 3 others in Karachi, Pakistan.

A blast strong enough to hurl a car into the air tore through a car park near the US consulate in a high-security zone, police said.

"The car flew through the air and fell on the other side of a seven-foot-high wall," an unnamed policeman told AFP.

Speculation is that the bombing is linked to President Bush's upcoming visit to Pakistan on Saturday although he is not scheduled to visit Karachi.

"We are investigating the motives behind the blasts but apparently it coincided with the visit of Bush," Salahuddin Haider, a spokesman for the provincial government, is quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.

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Now Mississippi Will Ban Abortion

The bill which passed the Mississippi House Public Health Committee on Tuesday is similar to South Dakota's bill in that abortion will only be allowed to save a woman's life and will not exempt cases of rape or incest.

[Gov. Haley] Barbour, a Republican, said he preferred an exception in cases of rape and incest, but if such a bill came to his desk: “I suspect I’ll sign it.”

And this is just infuriating.

“The time has come for these decisions to be made in these deliberative bodies, not by nine men and women who wear black robes,” said Republican state Sen. Jason Crowell.

No asshole, it is time these decisions be made by the pregnant woman in the privacy of her home.

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Heck Of A Job Bush

It looks like there's a large number of votes in the South Republicans won't get unless they can really distance themselves from Bush.

A majority of current New Orleans residents say they approve of the job mayor Ray Nagin did in responding to the effects of Hurricane Katrina, according to a new CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll conducted Feb. 18-26. Residents also have a positive view of how the city's police handled the situation, but are much more critical of Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco, President George W. Bush, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

(snip)

When asked whether they approve or disapprove of the way five government leaders or organizations handled the response to the effects of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans residents give the most positive ratings to the city's mayor and the city's police.

Interestingly enough, they were asked about response to the effects of Katrian. I would be interested how they would have polled had they been asked about preparations before Katrina.

TBogg The Feminist

It seems TBogg has gotten in touch with his feminine side. And it is all for the good. Don't miss "Noah Cross was a friend of mine" and "...and by persons I mean the ones with penises." Feel the anger and disgust.

Please Stop Pissing

Do you ever do something and realise soon after you should not have done? This is one of those moments for me. Of course I have an advantage here. Mr Ailes will never see this so can't take umbrage. I also consulted my trusted advisors. OK it was one advisor. I feel comfortable posting this.

I'll start by saying I think Roger Ailes is insightful, a fantastic writer and scary intelligent, but I have to question the need to piss on William F Buckley Jr. From a recent post.

My favorite bit of William F. Buckley's ballyhooed column on the miserable failure's miserable failure.

"It would not be surprising to learn from an anonymously cited American soldier that he can understand why Saddam Hussein was needed to keep the Sunnis and the Shiites from each others' throats."

Buckley lacks the balls to attribute that opinion to himself, so he puts the words in the mouth of a hypothetical soldier. And tortures the language to do so. (emphasis mine)

This is a good post and Roger is accurate in his observation Buckley is not "owning up to" his own idea.

The comment about torturing the language is unecessary. I've noticed more and more examples of such attacks that are what my family calls "cheap shots".

Attack ideas, arguments and logic, but stop with the juvenile attacks on presentation. A competent linguist can find fault with anyone's writing. I'm not capable of doing this at all. That's why I write simply. But such superiority stances bring nothing to the discourse.

Don't Quote Me

This is teh quote of the week if not the month. From Roger Ailes.

On the bright side, over 80 percent of al-Qaeda members approve of Bush's handling of the war on terror.

Bin Laden Will Be Captured

Bush was visiting Afganistan. He, of course, had to make another of his idiotic, macho claims.

KABUL, Afghanistan -
President Bush, on an unannounced visit to
Afghanistan, vowed Wednesday to stand by this emerging democracy and "not cut and run" in the face of rising violence. He also predicted
Osama bin Laden would be captured despite a futile five-year hunt.

"I'm confident he will be brought to justice," Bush said, standing alongside Afghan President Hamid Karzai outside the presidential palace.

Well, with almost no respect at all sir, I cry bullshit. In 5 years, with arguably the most sophisticated intelligence community in the world, you have pissed away opportunities to capture bin Laden. You are strutting like a little bantam rooster who thinks he is king of the barnyard. Just fucking put up or shut up. Your silly diatribes of "Mission Accomplished" and "bring it on" don't wash any longer. Why do you think your poll numbers are tanking? Get a clue.

Born Leaders

Something happening in Iraq points out the problem with installing or electing artificial leaders.

Sadr Seeks Iraq National Unity—Against U.S.

As elected leaders struggle to compromise, the radical cleric works the consensus on the streets.

With rewards or punishments, a leader can hold a position in politics, a corporation, a street gang or a religion. But the people know. They are drawn to and trust natural born leaders. These people have a charisma and gravitas that makes them magnetic to followers.

At this point it is likely the US would best be served by trying to work with al-Sadr because he will be a force to be reckoned with one way or another.

No Shit?

Headline for an AP story over at Yahoo News.

Study: Reading Key to College Success

I stopped reading there, but I have more headlines they are free to use.

Study: Skis Key To Downhill Racing
Study: Two Key To Tango

And my favourite.

Study: Internets Key To Blogging

Just let me know if you want more, Yahoo. These are free but additional ones will cost ya.

Even Our Allies Notice

This is from the UK's Independent Online and is completely shameful. I'll grant it is probably impossible for Bush to attend all troop funerals, but how about one representative ceremony per month? Twelve fucking funerals per year? Can't he cancel a fund raiser to make time?

More than 2,290 US troops have been killed in Iraq. President George Bush has attended none of the funerals - for which he is often criticised by the families of those who have died.

I suppose the president's participation isn't really necessary. Some other high ranking government official would, at least, show respect and reverence. Oops.

Nadia McCaffrey's son Patrick, 34, a member of the Californian National Guard, was killed during an ambush in Iraq in June 2004. She said she had not expected Mr Bush to attend her son's funeral in person but thought the government would send someone. (emphasis mine...and probably hers).

Compassionate as hell conservatives.

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Death Of A Professor

I borrowed (stole) the title from the Guardian Unlimited. No way I could do better.

This is a sad story about one man and indicative of a growing problem in Iraq, silencing opponents to the occupation of this country.

In a letter to a friend in Europe, Abdul Razaq al-Na'as, a Baghdad university professor in his 50s, grieved for his killed friends and colleagues. His letter concluded: "I wonder who is next!" He was. On January 28 al-Na'as drove from his office at Baghdad University. Two cars blocked his, and gunmen opened fire, killing him instantly.

The author writes these killings are a growing problem.

Al-Na'as is not the first academic to be killed in the mayhem of the "new Iraq". Hundreds of academics and scientists have met this fate since the March 2003 invasion. Baghdad universities alone have mourned the killing of over 80 members of staff. The minister of education stated recently that during 2005, 296 members of education staff were killed and 133 wounded.

And nothing is being done to stop them because "...independent minds have to be eradicated." for the occupation to suceed.

Not one of these crimes has been investigated by the occupation forces or the interim governments.

Among other things it looks like the US hasn't suceeded well in establishing the rule of law if what appear to be assassinations of innocent civilians isn't even investigated

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Proof Of Bush's Bubble

This is rich. There's an article over on CNN.com with highlights of an interview last Tuesday with President Bush. I've linked to the site, but you only need the title.

Despite polls, Bush says he has 'capital'

Oh yeah, 34% be great capital. No wonder this idiot was a failure at business...too.

No Civil War In Iraq

Lieutenant Michael Maples, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on the subject of civil war in Iraq.

"I believe that the underlying conditions are present, but that we are not involved in a civil war at this time," Maples said.

Maples and John Negroponte, director of national intelligence, both emphasized in the senate testimony that political and religious leaders have sought to avert a full blown civil war

.
Well, 68 people were killed one day, 70 people the next. I need a number here. How many daily deaths (running average will do) are required before it is a full blown civil war?

UAE And Ports Control

This is a mess that won't die. Thank gawd it won't because there's too much at stake.

Republican congressional leaders had hoped to curtail bipartisan outcries over a United Arab Emirates-based company's pending takeover of some U.S. port operations by brokering an agreement for a new investigation of the deal's potential security risks.

Then came the disclosure that the
U.S. Coast Guard had raised concerns weeks ago that, because of U.S. intelligence gaps, it could not determine whether the UAE company, DP World, might support terrorist operations.

(snip)

"If this isn't a smoking gun," Sen. Charles Schumer (news, bio, voting record), D-N.Y., said, "it shows that there may be one undetected" by the multi-agency panel that approved DP World's proposed purchase of London-based Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. The panel signed off on the deal without doing a 45-day investigation into security implications, which critics say the law requires. (emphasis mine).

Are you surprise? Another law completely ignored?

I have to admit, we might find life very interesting if everyone can make their own rules. Who needs rule of law? Anarchy now!

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Win With Bin Laden

I know I shouldn't be so snarky, but I can just see Bush smirking here. OK, I just want to slap him every time I see his face so I might be a little biased

U.S. President George W. Bush said his 2004 re-election victory over Sen. John Kerry was inadvertently aided by Osama bin Laden, who issued a taped diatribe against him the Friday before Americans went to the polls, The Examiner newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Bush said there were "enormous amounts of discussion" inside his campaign about the 15-minute tape, which he called "an interesting entry by our enemy" into the presidential race.

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Troop Withdrawl From Iraq

A recent poll provides interesting info and explains why Bush isn't likely to pull our troops out of Iraq anytime soon. His base wouldn't like it.

CBS News Poll. Feb. 22-26, 2006. N=1,018 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3 (for all adults).
RV = registered voters

"Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the situation with Iraq?"

ALL Adults
30% Approve
65% Disapprove
5% Unsure

Republicans
61% Approve
34% Disapprove
5% Unsure

Democrats
10% Approve
86% Disapprove
4% Unsure

Independents
25% Approve
69% Disapprove
6% Unsure

Its amazing how delusional Republicans can be. See last post. Bush is not handling this situation with any competence whatsoever.

Perhaps WaPo Was Wrong

It seems some of the death counts are "slightly" inflated.

On Tuesday, the Washington Post reported that the Iraqi police said 1,020 people had been killed in the sectarian violence that followed the bombing of the Shia shrine at Sammara on 22 February, but officials at Baghdad's morgue told the newspaper they had logged 1,300 deaths.

The head of the Baghdad central morgue, Dr Qais Hassan, told BBC Arabic.com that the Washington Post's figures could not be correct. He told the BBC that the morgue's records for the 23 to 26 February showed that 249 people had died in the violence.

The fact is 249 is still bad enough.

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Big Red Button Frenzy

Thanx to BigShotBobinTexas for this.

Get This Button On LoserAlliance.Com

Impeach Bush

Oh yeah! There is a God. A first step I hope is repeated over and over.

Wisconsin Democrats Vote to Impeach Bush

One down and 49 to go.

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Aparthied?

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki in Japan said.

"We have the right to a peaceful use of nuclear energy and we cannot accept nuclear apartheid," he told Aso [Japan Foreign Minister Taro Aso].

Did he really mean to use that word? Does Iran see Bush's antagonism as racist? Great for US. Now others reconise Bush as a racist. Was really hoping we could keep that a secret from the rest of the world.

Maybe they saw how Bush treated his own people in New Orleans?

Yeah, It Worked So Well In Iraq

Bush is truly out of control. He thinks he can depose any leaders he doesn't approve of.

President Bush has once again renewed his moral support of the Iranian people and their aspirations to total freedom.

This time, it seems, he’ll do more than merely talking about freedom; he pledged economic aid to the Iranian freedom fighters and those who risk their life by taking to the streets against the regime.

Technically it should be "risk their lives", but I'm being anal.

If this tactic doesn't work, he can always try bombing the shit out of them. Innocents will die, but it is for freedom you know.

Iraq Withdrawl

Something I haven't seen widely reported is Senator Carl Levin's (D-MI) remarks on AMC News' "This Week".

"If within the next six to eight weeks, you do not create a government of national unity, if you continue to squabble, if you continue to fiddle while Baghdad burns, then we are going to have to reassess our presence," Senator Carl Levin, the top Democrat on the powerful
Senate Armed Services Committee, said.

Asked, in an interview with ABC News television's "This Week" program, if this position represented a warning that the US military could be withdrawn from Iraq, Levin replied: "Exactly."

Of course there was a Republican security advisor, Stephen Hadley, saying this is an "opportunity" for the country to unite. (quotation marks not mine)

Hell yes. They can unite to blow up Western stores or maybe Christian churches.

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OK, When Did Bombing Become An Acceptable Tactic?

It seems more and more people think blowing stuff up is the only way to make a point. I can't imagine killing people up as opposed to talking, but too many think otherwise.

A blast rocked a mass rally site at Sanam Luang, Royal Palace, here at 8:00 p.m. (1300 GMT) Sunday as thousands of protesters gathered to demand the caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to step down.

It looks like explosives are a bull commodity.

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This Can't Be Good

You can't keep them down?

At least 30 prisoners have been wounded after inmates linked with al-Qa'eda and the Taliban seized control of a wing of a prison in Afghanistan.

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Nuclear Iran

This site has many articles which suggest it is possible to deal with Iran without bombs. I know it's a radical idea, but the alternatives I've posted about earlier suggest it is what we need.

I'm no Pollyanna. We have to watch/monitor Iran, but they do have a right to peacefully use nuclear plants for power. I'm nervous as many are about nuclear energy because I grew up in "the nuclear fear era", but it is probably inevitable for countries to adopt this source because oil can't do the job forever.

With the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) we can monitor nuclear use and educate and train countries so they use this energy source safely to avoid Three Mile Island and Chernobyl disasters.

Homosexuals. Lesbians and Transgenders

At the bottom of my site I have a banner.


Blogging is an alternative lifestyle unlike sexually oriented lifestyles.

Anyway be that as it may, sexual orientation is not alternative. Sexual orientation is better served by the appellation genetically ordained lifestyle.

If you are heterosexual, you are attracted to and aroused by the opposite sex. No choice. You're hard wired that way from birth. Same for everyone. Our sexual orientation is hard wired and no phony "reformed or former" homosexuals can change that. A homosexual cannot convince me I'm not hetero and we heteros can't convince non-heteros they are closet heteros. So acceptance, not "tolerance" is in order.

Gawd I hate the term "tolerance". That has to be one of the most condescening words in the English language. Read Merriam-Webster's definition. It reeks.

(M-W Online Dictionary)

Surprise! More Business As Usual

I'm no longer really surprised that Bush will do anything to ensure US companies have every customer possible. This even to the point he will ignore the fact India hasn't signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty that Iran has signed.

The deal with India, endorsed in general terms by Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, would put India’s civilian nuclear program under international controls but exempt its weapons program from outside scrutiny. The two leaders hope to fill in details of the agreement during Bush’s visit.

India would gain access to commercial nuclear technology and equipment that are now off limits because of its pariah status. American companies could get in on deals that are now forbidden by U.S. law and by the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

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Oh Yeah? Maybe Not

Bob Woodward in a speach before business leaders in San Antonio made his prediction on the Republicans' 2008 Presidential candidate.

As for the 2008 White House race, Woodward said the GOP has a habit of nominating old war horses: “You’re going to think I’m crazy. … I think they could nominate Dick Cheney.”

My money is on McCain, but only if they can't get Joe Lieberman. I know, I know, technically he's a Democrat.

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I'm Not Worried

I'm late with this poll, but this is exactly why the public doesn't get all weak-kneed thinking about illegal wiretaps. They know it isn't happening to them.

CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll. Feb. 9-12, 2006. Nationwide.

"Just your best guess -- How likely is it that the federal government has ever wiretapped any of your telephone conversations: very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not at all likely?" N=1,000, MoE ± 3

Very Likely.................8%
Somewhat Likely.....13%
Not Too Likely.........24%
Not At All Likely......52%
Unsure.......................3%

So 92% don't believe it very likely they've been spied on. Even the other 8% may not be concerned about it.

Not Iran Too

Ran across an interesting paper out of the Oxford group in UK, basically a peace oriented think tank from what I gather, which tackled the question of what can we expect if Iran is attacked. In a paper titled IRAN: consequences of a war, Paul Rogers states in brief:

An attack on Iranian nuclear infrastructure would signal the start of a protracted military confrontation that would probably grow to involve Iraq, Israel and Lebanon, as well as the USA and Iran. The report concludes that a military response to the current crisis in relations with Iran is a particularly dangerous option and should not be considered further. Alternative approaches must be sought, however difficult these may be.

Its interesting to me that the group limits such a conflict to only 5 countries. I would expect current US allies in Iraq to get involved at the minimum. And, considering US occupation of Iran too would mean controlling even more of the world's oil, other countries might start getting involved.

I have posted before that Iran is at the top of Bush's hit list and attacking them is inevitable. Things like this don't assure me we won't.

"This notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous... Having said that, all options are on the table." George W. Bush, February 2005

Folks, it ain't a "notion". If you can't learn from history older than yourself, you have an out because the history knowledge necessary to see this Iranian war coming is less than 5 years old.

Who Knew? Western Media Problems

Be it because of negligence, laziness, stonewalling or censorship, the western media just doesn't provide us with proper reporting on the situation in Iraq. Had you heard about this?

British Prime Minister Tony Blair stated that those who committed the attack on the Golden Mosque “have only one motive: to create a violent sedition between the Sunnis and the Shiites in order to derail the Iraqi rising democracy from its path.”

Well said Mr. Blair, particularly when we keep in mind the fact that less than a year ago in Basra, two undercover British SAS soldiers were detained by Iraqi security forces whilst traveling in a car full of bombs and remote detonators.

Jailed and accused by Muqtada al-Sadr and others of attempting to generate sectarian conflict by planting bombs in mosques, they were broken out of the Iraqi jail by the British military before they could be tried.

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(Update) Fixed "read more" link to original item.