ThinkFast: July 21, 2006
A short exchange between President Bush and NAACP Chairman Julian Bond that referenced some individuals in the crowd yesterday who were heckling the president was removed from the official White House transcript. The White House described the disruption as “applause.”
Top NASA scientist James Hansen explained why he did not attend a recent House committee hearing on global warming. “I would get out of my sickbed to testify to Congress on global warming, if they were ready to deal responsibly with the matter,” Hansen wrote. “But obviously they are still in denial, inviting contrarians to ‘balance’ the science of global warming.”
A federal judge did not buy the administration’s argument that a lawsuit challenging the NSA domestic wiretapping program would endanger national security. The ruling yesterday marked “the first time a judge has ruled on the government’s claim of a ‘state secrets privilege.’â€
Scientists say earth is losing species “faster than at any time since 65 million years ago” as a result of human activity.
Senior CIA officials pushing to produce a new National Intelligence Estimate for Iraq, in part to answer questions over whether a civil war has begun, “have been stonewalled” by intel czar John Negroponte, “who knows that any honest take on the situation would produce an NIE even more pessimistic than the 2004 version.”
Redefining “quiet.” “Thursday was one of the quietest days in one of the year’s bloodiest weeks, with no single reported attack in Iraq claiming more than 13 lives.” Police squads “looking for the corpses that are found most mornings on the city’s streets” did locate 38 bodies, most shot in the head.
$591 million: Halliburton’s second-quarter profit, a 51 percent increase over the same period last year.
Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt and his relatives have claimed millions of dollars in tax deductions through a type of charitable foundation they created. The foundation has, until recently, paid out very little in actual charity but instead invested or lent to the family’s business interests and real estate holdings.
Colorado State Rep. Jim Welker (R), criticized for forwarding around an article titled “‘Black Culture’ Blamed For Hurricane Katrina Woes,” defended himself by claiming, “Some of my good friends are different colors.” Welker also recently had to apologize for forwarding a racially charged essay that said Hurricane Katrina victims were “welfare pampered” and “immoral.”
And finally: House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) reveals all to Capitol Hills interns. “Boehner explained to the young ’uns that he thought he’d never get elected because people couldn’t pronounce his name. They thought of everything, he said, except the way it’s really pronounced, which is BAY-ner, including… ‘Boner.’”
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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“applause.â€? Well, they also call Iraq a “Success”…
July 21st, 2006 at 9:19 am“I would get out of my sickbed to testify to Congress on global warming, if they were ready to deal responsibly with the matter,†Hansen wrote. “But obviously they are still in denial, inviting contrarians to ‘balance’ the science of global warming.â€
I think you just hit the spot, Hansen. Scientists discover, invent, analyze, experiment but decision makers are lawyers, politicians, CEO´s, and other clueless idiots. This is planet Earth with humans aboard. Good luck.
July 21st, 2006 at 9:20 amClip of Miles O’Brien interviewing Tony Snow this morning on CNN (rough transcript):
Miles: Don’t you think that Israel is using excessive force? Let me play you a clip of Kofi Annan:
Tony: Well, you have to look at how he framed his comments. He said excessive force was being used, but didn’t say Israel was using excessive force.
————-
July 21st, 2006 at 9:23 amThere didn’t seem to be much media coverage of these greatest hits of Republican race relations…
July 21st, 2006 at 9:25 amScientists say earth is losing species “faster than at any time since 65 million years ago†as a result of human activity.
Super…we are an extinction event.
Jebus must be so proud…
July 21st, 2006 at 9:26 amHealth and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt and his relatives have claimed millions of dollars in tax deductions through a type of charitable foundation they created. The foundation has, until recently, paid out very little in actual charity but instead invested or lent to the family’s business interests and real estate holdings.
While the rest of us feel duty bound and socially required to pay our taxes these people that are always bitching about taxes cheat cheat cheat in every way imaginable to NOT pay their taxes.
My parents have always been poor. Right now they are still just barely getting by… they will probably die that way. Yet they pay their taxes year after year without looking for way to cheat the system… unlike republican millionaires that cheat cheat cheat … and then have the gall to send people off to die to preserve their cheating ways.
July 21st, 2006 at 9:30 amScientists say earth is losing species “faster than at any time since 65 million years ago†as a result of human activity.
Super…we are an extinction event.
Jebus must be so proud…
Comment by TripMaster Monkey
Back when Americans first were drilling for oil they used to get all this clearish liquid that would come up in large amounts at first before the oil came out… they just pumped it all into barrels took it down to the local stream and dumped it… later that liquid would be known as “natural gas” … wonder how much gas you can just dump into the water ways before you start poisoning the earth….
July 21st, 2006 at 9:34 amA short exchange between President Bush and NAACP Chairman Julian Bond that referenced some individuals in the crowd yesterday who were heckling the president was removed from the official White House transcript. The White House described the disruption as “applause.â€
So they are using the very same methods used for the news network for “balanced Iraq news” Al Arabiya at home?
Top NASA scientist James Hansen explained why he did not attend a recent House committee hearing on global warming. “I would get out of my sickbed to testify to Congress on global warming, if they were ready to deal responsibly with the matter,†Hansen wrote. “But obviously they are still in denial, inviting contrarians to ‘balance’ the science of global warming.â€
Well done. Hansen’s time is far more valuable than Bushie’s one.
A federal judge did not buy the administration’s argument that a lawsuit challenging the NSA domestic wiretapping program would endanger national security. The ruling yesterday marked “the first time a judge has ruled on the government’s claim of a ‘state secrets privilege.’â€
Hey, a fair and honest judge, at last.
Scientists say earth is losing species “faster than at any time since 65 million years ago†as a result of human activity.
Wasn’t Jason yesterday who was saying that always existed extincions as today? This article contradicts Jason’s point that it is “bussiness as usual”.
Senior CIA officials pushing to produce a new National Intelligence Estimate for Iraq, in part to answer questions over whether a civil war has begun, “have been stonewalled†by intel czar John Negroponte, “who knows that any honest take on the situation would produce an NIE even more pessimistic than the 2004 version.â€
As it looks, seems that Bushie prefers to lose the war than admit the situation is worse. This is a saying in my country that goes, more or less, like this: “There is no worse kind of blind than the one who doesn’t want to see”.
Redefining “quiet.†“Thursday was one of the quietest days in one of the year’s bloodiest weeks, with no single reported attack in Iraq claiming more than 13 lives.†Police squads “looking for the corpses that are found most mornings on the city’s streets†did locate 38 bodies, most shot in the head.
Bussiness as usual. The dawn… birdies singing… crickets chirping… the sound of the river… a couple AK-47 shots… IEDs exploding… A brand new day in Baghdad.
$591 million: Halliburton’s second-quarter profit, a 51 percent increase over the same period last year.
Usury and war profiteering. Period.
Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt and his relatives have claimed millions of dollars in tax deductions through a type of charitable foundation they created. The foundation has, until recently, paid out very little in actual charity but instead invested or lent to the family’s business interests and real estate holdings.
These are the charitable organizations that want the Republicans to substitute welfare. Far more efficient. Driving tax money to their personal wealth.
And finally: House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) reveals all to Capitol Hills interns. “Boehner explained to the young ’uns that he thought he’d never get elected because people couldn’t pronounce his name. They thought of everything, he said, except the way it’s really pronounced, which is BAY-ner, including…’Boner.’â€
The ones calling you “boner” where winking to you too? Maybe they are “personal admirers”…
July 21st, 2006 at 9:35 amdid anyone catch the “short exchange” last night between stephen colbert and julian bond?… it was telling… and funny…
July 21st, 2006 at 9:42 amHealth and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt and his relatives have claimed millions of dollars in tax deductions through a type of charitable foundation they created. The foundation has, until recently, paid out very little in actual charity but instead invested or lent to the family’s business interests and real estate holdings
Come on cut these guys some slack. Everyone knows charity begins in the home…….or summer home or investment property or business property. Just doin’ god’s work.
July 21st, 2006 at 9:43 amThe Bush administration has refused to allow any investigation into the existence of the NSA program…Gonzales recently testified before Congress that President Bush personally blocked an investigation… by denying the investigators clearances necessary to gain access to the records.
Ironically, it was actions such as these that helped provide enough legal basis for Walker to issue his ruling.
“The government has disclosed the general contours of the ‘terrorist surveillance program,’” Walker said, “which requires the assistance of a telecommunications provider, and AT&T claims that it lawfully and dutifully assists the government in classified matters when asked.”
Given the massive scope of the surveillance program, encompassing domestic telephone traffic as well as foreign, “it cannot reasonably be said that the program as alleged is limited to tracking foreign powers,” Walker said. “Accordingly, AT&T’s alleged actions here violate the constitutional rights clearly established [in previous litigation].”
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/07/nsa_att.html
July 21st, 2006 at 9:48 amSorry, I usually catch Jon Stewart & Colbert the next day on re-runs.
What’d they say?
July 21st, 2006 at 9:48 amScientists say earth is losing species “faster than at any time since 65 million years ago†as a result of human activity.
Unforgivable. Irredeemable.
July 21st, 2006 at 9:50 amReply to Zooey:
Unforgivable. Irredeemable.
And catastrophic to all forms of life on the planet (especially us).
Ever wonder why SETI can’t find evidence of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe? This is why…civilizations tend to self-destruct, and the more advanced they are, the more damage they do on the way down.
July 21st, 2006 at 9:57 amBoner has done the Bugman proud.
July 21st, 2006 at 10:01 amTo date, he’s raised more money from K Street than DeLay was able to.
John, your ‘corruption reform’ plan is working splendidly.
This guy talks out of his ass faster than his mouth. At least DeLay didn’t
hesitate to tell you he’s proud of his corrupt ways; Boner says he’s doing
just the opposite of his actions.
Boner is more interested in how dark his tan is than any reform. Isn’t he
up for re-election this year? If so, what’s he campaigning for? More freedom
for K Street? More free golf trips on the name of corruption reform?
The Feces Factor is alive, well & growing prolifically in Washington.
sorry kindness, my memory is no good for recalling such…
i do remember getting the impresssion that bond was NOT
much deluded by the implications and reasons for bush’s visit…
the video is not up yet… it was a short segment at the beginning of the show, not the usual interview…
July 21st, 2006 at 10:01 ambut the joe scarborough interview is there...
zooey - is this your last day as THE ZOOKEEPER?
July 21st, 2006 at 10:03 amkindness - it should be posted here soon.
July 21st, 2006 at 10:03 am#14 - TripMaster,
This is why…civilizations tend to self-destruct, and the more advanced they are, the more damage they do on the way down.
I have hope that we will learn, but we must learn soon. Do you think I’m wrong to hope?
July 21st, 2006 at 10:05 amoh! but i DO remember what colbert did to Fla. Rep. Wexler in his “better know a district” segment… hoo wee… that guy must be extremely gullible of just not give a shite…
July 21st, 2006 at 10:08 ambut it’s a real hoot!
Zooey, you are not wrong to hope.
Think Peace. It can’t hurt, and it just might help.
July 21st, 2006 at 10:09 amis this your last day as THE ZOOKEEPER?
Comment by katy
YES!!! Since I was out yesterday, I have a lot of stuff to shut down and personal (rude) stuff to pack up. I’m SO thankful the new Zookeeper is a quick learner and a hard worker. Thanks for remembering!
July 21st, 2006 at 10:09 amZooey, out of one zoo, into another….
:-)
July 21st, 2006 at 10:10 amThink Peace. It can’t hurt, and it just might help.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire
Wise words, as always. :)
July 21st, 2006 at 10:10 amIn my local paper, the AP picture of a heckler was captioned so as not to be offensive to Bush - it was irrelevant to the photo.
July 21st, 2006 at 10:10 amKaty, I was also going to note the Colbert interview with Bond - funny and pertinent.
July 21st, 2006 at 10:11 amZooey, out of one zoo, into another….
:-)
Comment by Briseadh na Faire
You are SO right. There’s a tiny, tiny voice in the back of my head, saying, “Be careful what you wish for…” I keep yelling back at it, “DENTAL!” :-D
July 21st, 2006 at 10:12 amSince I was out yesterday, I have a lot of stuff to shut down and personal (rude) stuff to pack up. I’m SO thankful the new Zookeeper is a quick learner and a hard worker. Thanks for remembering!
Comment by Zooey — July 21, 2006 @ 10:09 am
you’re welcome! best of luck on your new adventure!
July 21st, 2006 at 10:18 amcheck your email!
marie - i’m so glad you said that… i’d hate to have made a big deal out of it here and have it turn out to be nothing… i though bond was being graciously diplomatic while letting it be known that bush didn’t fool anyone…
July 21st, 2006 at 10:27 amBlessings to you Zooey at the new zoo and beyond…..Peace……Dental is important to..
July 21st, 2006 at 10:32 amI’m glad I don’t have any kids. The future looks very grim on education, jobs, peak oil, CO2 & methane green house gases, creation of police states and theocracies that love war…
July 21st, 2006 at 10:37 amTony Snow said this morning that Georgie boy talked to the King of Jordon, the King of Saudi Arabia, the President of Egypt and the prime minister of Turkey, and I tried to wonder what the conversation would sound like,
President of Egypt; “Hello Mr. President”
Georgie boy; “Russia’s big and so is China”
The President of Egypt; “I know Mr. President”
Georgie boy; ” Go to the airport, get on the airplane and go home. How about you? Where are you going? Home?”
President of Egypt; ” I am Home Mr. President, you called me here…”
Georgie boy; “Oh yea, I forgot…well, the irony is what they need to do is get Syria to get Hezbollah to stop doing this shit, and it’s over.”
President of Egypt; “Excuse Me Mr. President”
Georgie boy; “Gotta go home. Got something to do tonight.”
President of Egypt; ” Well Goodbye Mr. President, nice talking to you ”
Georgie boy; “bye, bye”
And as the President of Egypt hangs the phone up he thinks; “IDIOT”
probably similar conservations took place with other victims of Georgie boy’s intellect….
July 21st, 2006 at 10:42 amSenior CIA officials pushing to produce a new National Intelligence Estimate for Iraq, in part to answer questions over whether a civil war has begun, “have been stonewalled†by intel czar John Negroponte, “who knows that any honest take on the situation would produce an NIE even more pessimistic than the 2004 version.â€
With the delusional view that Bush and company has of the situation in Iraq, I wonder if Baghdad Bob has any symphathy for “DC Tony”
July 21st, 2006 at 10:45 amDental is important to..
Comment by Sharon Cox
You bet, Sharon. Don’t want to start looking the part of the logger dance partner. ;)
I’m glad I don’t have any kids. The future looks very grim on education, jobs, peak oil, CO2 & methane green house gases, creation of police states and theocracies that love war…
Comment by Just plain mad
I can see how you would feel that way — really. But the fact that I have two sons makes me want to fight harder for a decent world for them. Just a different view…Peace.
July 21st, 2006 at 10:45 amthe pig negroponte is concerned perhaps that investigators might find his gnarled fingers on the civilian deaths… recall that negroponte ran project phoenix and was responsible for several acts of similar genocide during his disgusting career….
July 21st, 2006 at 11:01 am#32- Clif- Hi there, stranger! Where have you been? Nice to see you.
July 21st, 2006 at 11:07 amI have been out of the loop. Where is Zoo going?
July 21st, 2006 at 11:08 am#22- Zooey- Off to the next big adventure? Well, congratulations and the best of luck at your new “zoo”! :)
July 21st, 2006 at 11:11 amRe.#36…# 32-”Clif-Hi there,….Where have you been”?
Who cares?
July 21st, 2006 at 11:21 amNEW YORK (AP) — Next week, Pamela Anderson will make an honest man out of Kid Rock.
The couple, now vacationing in St. Tropez, France, will marry July 29 on a yacht near the glamorous hotspot, Us Weekly magazine reported Tuesday on its Web site
Finally, true love wins out. This gives me hope. Pardon me, I need a tissue.
July 21st, 2006 at 11:23 amIf only the Israelis and Hezbollah and Hamas could know love like that! World peace would not be so difficult…
July 21st, 2006 at 11:24 am39 Yawn
July 21st, 2006 at 11:54 amWho cares who cares?
# 42. P.L.C.
July 21st, 2006 at 11:58 amNot me.
Scientist are in the process of sequencing the genome of Neanderthal Man and are investing considerable effort in theprocees as scores of fossils need tobe sampled in order to weed out DNA from bacteria and modern humans who have handled the remains.
July 21st, 2006 at 12:02 pmWouldn’t it be far simpler to ask W to wipe a Q-Tip in his cheek for a sample?
Bill Clinton Helps Joe Lieberman?
Friday 21st of July 2006
by Jay Randal
The press is reporting that former Pres. Bill Clinton is going to help campaign for Sen. Joe Lieberman, on Monday, so Bill has decided to sell out his soul for Joe!
Sen. Lieberman insinuated that Pres. Clinton was a pervert, during the impeachment debate in the Senate over Monica affair, so Bill helping Joe is very weird!
VP Al Gore made the biggest mistake of his entire life choosing Joe Lieberman as his running mate, in 2000, because he stabbed Al in the back in Florida big-time!
Old Joe is a turncoat to the Democrat Party, and has helped the Bush Regime on deluding the US citizenry, on the Iraq fiasco/debacle, so he deserves no support!
Big Bill has hung out with Bush Senior ever since he retired from the presidency, and has basically backed Bush Junior on the Iraq War, as Hillary does as well!
Americans are tired of being used, abused, and lied to by devious politicians, so Joe, Bill, and Hillary are on notice of becoming completely obnoxious to electorate!
( Jay Randal, political activist and writer in Stone Mountain, Georgia.)
July 21st, 2006 at 12:46 pmPublished on Friday, July 21, 2006 by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Sexual Harassment: Ewwww. Again
Editorial
We were embarrassed by the behavior of the president of the United States at the G-8 Summit this week.
First, a little background. When Bill Clinton served in the White House, this newspaper was offended by his personal weaknesses. One Editorial Board member wrote: “Bill Clinton has proved himself a liar, an adulterer, a cad, and a failed feminist. He is no candidate for boss of the year.”
While we agreed with Clinton on policy, we thought, at least, George W. Bush’s personal actions would, as he himself put it, “bring honor and dignity back to the White House.”
That’s why we were stunned when the president “greeted” the chancellor of Germany in a manner we consider inappropriate. The San Francisco Chronicle put it this way: “The scene, captured by a Russian TV camera, hit the Internet like a summer wildfire Tuesday, and it may be most memorable for the German chancellor’s reaction. Bush applies his hands to (Angela) Merkel’s shoulders and neck while she’s speaking with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi; the chancellor hunches her shoulders, then throws her hands up to stop the unexpected massage with a wan smile — and an expression that can best be translated as ‘Ewwww.’ ”
The act was demeaning to the leader of another nation. It also demonstrates insensitive (if not out-of-bounds) workplace conduct. Since this was an international summit, we’ll cite the United Nations’ sexual harassment guidelines. “Unwelcome behavior is the critical word,” the document says, followed by a listing of objectionable actions. About halfway down the list: “Neck massage.”
Ewwww. We’re embarrassed again.
July 21st, 2006 at 2:12 pmAw poor Hansen. He doesn’t want to show up because then he’ll actually have to defend his opinions against people who don’t agree with him. It’s so much easier to be right when everyone around you believes what you say. It’s kind of like Think Progress. What a wuss.
July 21st, 2006 at 2:47 pm[…] Think Progress […]
July 21st, 2006 at 4:23 pm[…] Image is Everything Posted by t.h.reasoner under Politics , Class Wars ThinkProgress >> White House replaces transcript with script it likes better […]
July 21st, 2006 at 6:45 pmSeixon, when have you ever defended your position?…with facts, I mean.
July 21st, 2006 at 11:07 pmJPark,
You’re determined to spend all weekend with the Norwegian Hall Monitor, aren’t you?
July 21st, 2006 at 11:43 pmNo Googling…
Sorry, Zoo, it is so fun though!!
July 21st, 2006 at 11:52 pmHarry Convict
This is great
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