ThinkFast: July 25, 2006
ThinkFast: July 25, 2006
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said of the Mideast violence that has claimed hundreds of lives, “We’re seeing here is, in a sense, the growing — the birth pangs of a new Middle East.”
“Despite jubilation within conservative ranks” over the renomination of John Bolton as U.N. Ambassador, “it remains unclear” whether conservatives “will be able to muster enough support to break an expected Democratic filibuster, Senate aides on both sides of the aisle said.”
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) is readying a bill that would allow Congress to sue President Bush over his use of presidential signing statements “with the view to having the president’s acts declared unconstitutional.”
The House and Senate leadership have decided to put off a vote to lower estates taxes until after the August recess. The delay is considered a “major blow†to the estate tax effort because “the legislative calendar will be crowded with other measures†when Congress returns from its break.
Most Americans blame Hezbollah “a great deal” for initiating the current Mideast crisis, a new USA Today poll shows, though half also say Israel was justified in responding but has now “gone too far.” “Two-thirds say President Bush does not have a clear Mideast policy.”
The White House said yesterday it has long known about Pakistan’s growing nuclear program that was revealed publicly in yesterday’s Washington Post. “It just didn’t feel like telling Congress, which instead learned about it a few days ago from independent analysts.”
The Christian Science Monitor finds, not surprisingly, that the practice of earmarking is “ingrained in Capitol Hill culture.†Case in point: Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) “is attempting a major expansion of the FBI in his state, earmarking millions of dollars for Huntsville facilities the White House did not ask for.â€
President Bush’s stem cell veto has “had the unintended consequence of drawing state money into the contentious field,†as Govs. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) and Rod Blagojevich (D-IL) backed millions of dollars in grants to stem cell research.
37%: Bush’s job approval rating, which “seems to have reached a plateau in the 37% to 40% range since mid-June.†Only 35 percent of Americans approve of Bush’s handling of Iraq.
And finally: Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman has proposed a new punishment for graffiti vandals: bind them in a medieval-style stocks and give the public a chance to paint their faces. “I want to see if it falls under cruel or unusual punishment. If not, great. Let’s put it into effect.”
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Arlen Specter is certainly the laugher of the day. He and his party have failed in their oversight duties and now he comes to the American people with this fig leaf. Sorry, I ain’t buyin’ it.
Make the Goper’s lament.
July 25th, 2006 at 9:14 am“The birth pangs of a new Middle East.” That’s classic. You have to hand it to Condi – she spins shit like nobody else.
July 25th, 2006 at 9:25 amSen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) said he will have a bill ready by the end of the week that would allow Congress to sue President Bush over his use of presidential signing statements.
Bull. Shit. NO WAY this actually passes. Specter has done this kind of crap 50 times. He’ll either pull this at the last minute, or water it down. Or both.
July 25th, 2006 at 9:26 amI’m optimistic about Specter’s bill. However, I’m not holding my breath.
July 25th, 2006 at 9:29 amSpecter appears to be trying to kiss W’s butt and kick it at the same time. People of Pennsylvania: you admire this man?
July 25th, 2006 at 9:36 am“We’re seeing here is, in a sense, the growing — the birth pangs of a new Middle East.â€
If these are the birth pangs….I think its gonna be one ugly child.
July 25th, 2006 at 9:39 amInstead of passing a bill allowing them to sue the president, why doesn’t Congress exercise their existing constitutional authority and suspend funding, or at least threaten to do so?
Why further endanger separation of powers doctrine by entangling all three branches over an issue that already has constitutional remedies?
July 25th, 2006 at 9:40 amSpecter’s bill will probably contain wording at the end of a 45-page document that negates the previous 44 pages and instead allows Bush to sue Congress for infringing on his right to operate outside the rule of law.
July 25th, 2006 at 9:41 am#7
July 25th, 2006 at 9:43 amCause the Repubs have no balls.
“The birth pangs of a new Middle East.â€
Hey “Dr” Ricei,
Its really the death pangs of the little children we hear that are being killed by the armanents your governemnet supplied to the terrorist zionists. Understand , that those little children who some how managed to survice the carnage will grow-up and become “terrorists” and take revenge on your sorry ass.
July 25th, 2006 at 9:55 amDrSinker – no, we don’t.
July 25th, 2006 at 9:55 ammushroom clouds – historic document – birth pangs
July 25th, 2006 at 10:02 amCondi can tell a colorful tale.
It acts as a smokescreen for her being in over her head.
Specter has made noise similar to this in the past only to do nothing. So he will write a bill for suing the president — will he follow through? If, he does get it out of the starting gate, will he take it to the finish or will he allow it to drag on and wither away until Bush is out of office?
Specter is worse than others because he is appears more reasonable and people tend to believe him until he lets them down again.
July 25th, 2006 at 10:08 amDon’t believe what they say — watch what they do.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday of the Mideast violence that has claimed hundreds of lives, “We’re seeing here is, in a sense, the growing — the birth pangs of a new Middle East.â€
The deadly combination of a complete lack of empathy or common sense, and never having pushed anything out of her cooch.
July 25th, 2006 at 10:09 amBush doesn’t have a clear mideast policy? Whatever gave people that idea?
July 25th, 2006 at 10:10 amwell, damn… he didn’t miss the train…
now i gotta put him on my shit list for sure…
Bill Clinton Praises Joe Lieberman
…
Democrats “don’t agree on everything. We don’t agree on Iraq,” Clinton said, urging Democrats to put the issue aside ...
WHAAAAAT??? I DON’T THINK SO!
“The real issue is, whether you were for it or against it, what are we going to do now.”
OK…
“And let me tell you something: No Democrat is responsible for the mistakes that have been made since the fall of Saddam Hussein that have brought us to this point.”
well… that’s true, mostly…
but then a contradiction follows with:
Lieberman has been one of the most vocal Democratic supporters of the Iraq war in the Senate, and he recently voted against two proposals to begin winding down the American military commitment.
uhhh boy… why’d ya have to go there, bill?…
July 25th, 2006 at 10:15 ammajor disappointment…
Condi – birth is birth and death is death. Your Orwellian doublespeak “Death is birth” is brainless and propogandist and we aren’t fooled by you or your Neocon Fascists anymore.
July 25th, 2006 at 10:15 amthe birth pangs of a new Middle East
July 25th, 2006 at 10:16 amAnd who in the world is getting screwed to produce this offspring?
The White House said yesterday it has long known about Pakistan’s growing nuclear program that was revealed publicly in yesterday’s Washington Post. “It just didn’t feel like telling Congress, which instead learned about it a few days ago from independent analysts.â€
Imagine that…
July 25th, 2006 at 10:16 amand never having pushed anything out of her cooch.
Comment by Zooey — July 25, 2006 @ 10:09 am
a BIG qualifier there! that’s for sure!
July 25th, 2006 at 10:18 amgood one, zooey!
to be fair, “birth pangs” sounds a lot nicer than “the bombing/killing of innocent civilians”
July 25th, 2006 at 10:19 amAnd who in the world is getting screwed to produce this offspring?
Comment by PLC (PatrioticLiberalChristian) — July 25, 2006 @ 10:16 am
another zinger! w00t!
you guys are on a roll!
July 25th, 2006 at 10:20 amand i’m gonna miss it… gone all day!
have fun… play nice!
Yea the same way a “little slap and tickle” sounds better than getting f****d.
July 25th, 2006 at 10:24 am#20 – katy,
Hell yeah, “big qualifier!” Zoo Jr was 9 1/2 lbs. That seems pretty tiny compared to what’s going on in the Middle East right now. That bitch hasn’t got a clue…
July 25th, 2006 at 10:27 amIsrael was justified in responding but has now “gone too far.†“Two-thirds say President Bush does not have a clear Mideast policy.â€
Muslimes worship the Prophet Mohammed.
Neocans worship the Profit Margin.
Bush has a clear Middle East policy; he just doesn’t
July 25th, 2006 at 10:30 amtell congress.
Two-thirds say President Bush does not have a clear Mideast policy.â€
of course he has a clear policy. Unconditional support for Israel to the detriment of the nation’s citizens, strategic interests, and security. Whatever happened to America first ?
July 25th, 2006 at 10:33 am“Most Americans blame Hezbollah “a great deal†for initiating the current Mideast crisis…”
What??? Americans actually believe that a group of fanatical Islamist terrorist savages who deliberately target Israeli innocent men, women, and children are to blame for the current crisis???? Why would they think that????
July 25th, 2006 at 10:49 amUnable to permanently repeal the estate tax, the Bush administration plans to cripple enforcement instead.
For more on why this latest effort to gut the IRS is simply class warfare by other means, see:
July 25th, 2006 at 10:53 am“IRS Slashes Staff Auditing Wealthiest Americans.”
#27 the sheeple in America have been sooo brain-washed and manipulated but you have to give credit to the powers that are responsible for accomplising this feat. A nation of 300m people with the most superior communications technology oblivious to cause and effect in world events. If Goebbels had such technology imagine how the world would be today?
July 25th, 2006 at 11:00 amI think Presidential signing statements should be allowed, and each signing statement should be reviewed by the Supreme Court to determine whether or not the Congress has exceeded their constitutional powers in each case. The Constitution states that Congress shall pass no laws which usurp the powers given to the Executive and Judicial branches of government, which is why the President has used signing statements in those instances in which he feels the Congress has usurped power. I see this as our constitutional government working, in which the president himself can direct laws to the supreme court for review prior to private citizens bringing suit long after the damage is done.
July 25th, 2006 at 11:09 amJason, why do you keep flip flopping your position on baby killers? We’ve gone over this already, do we need to again? Please be consistent.
July 25th, 2006 at 11:30 amthat was for jason baddo
July 25th, 2006 at 11:32 amThe White House said yesterday it has long known about Pakistan’s growing nuclear program that was revealed publicly in yesterday’s Washington Post. “It just didn’t feel like telling Congress, which instead learned about it a few days ago from independent analysts.â€
And we are supposed to believe the President when he told us Congress saw the same intelligence as the administration did in the lead-up to the Iraq invasion.
Yeah, riiiiight. I needed a good laugh today. Happy to see that the White House didn’t disappoint.
July 25th, 2006 at 11:57 amWow. So Congress has usurped power over 750 times. Just, wow. And this from Bush’s Congress. Who the hell do they think they are? Sounds more like Bush giving a big “F-you” to Congress.
Specter just needs to amend the Constitution to allow signing statements and make it retroactive. Problem solved for past and future presidents.
July 25th, 2006 at 12:01 pmExcellent Point Zooey. However, I won’t bring up Bolton’s mustache if you don’t bring up Condi’s cooch again. ;)
July 25th, 2006 at 12:10 pmJust saw this on crooksandliars.com:
During the 2004 presidential campaign, the Bush-Cheney campaign enforced a rigorous “bubble,” which limited audiences to pre-screened sycophants, some of whom were asked to sign loyalty oaths. During Bush’s campaign to privatize Social Security, a strictly-enforced bubble was used again, ensuring that the president would only take “questions” from those who were already convinced Bush was right.
Can we now, a few years later, finally put all of the “Bubble Boy” unpleasantness behind us? Not so much.
For Jason Hendler and all the Bush supporters reading this, I hope you are happy. People getting f-ing arrested for supporting an opponent of the president and for a viewpoint.
July 25th, 2006 at 12:12 pmExcuse me for asking but here’s the big question’s from me to all the reich wingers today…..How does this work for the USA….First our decider supports and gives bombs to Israel to bomb the crap out of Lebanon (with borrowed funds from China), then the decider, decides to send food and supplies to Lebanon to help the survivors (more borrowed funds). The question I have is, why are we supporting the bombing in the first place.? Lebanon and countries around the world have been begging for a cese fire. Why are the right wing and decider allowing Israel to continue and refusing to demand Israel to stop their march.? Just like Iraq, how many have to die to make you all happy.? All it would take is illiminate the funding of all the war supplies and bringing our troops home and this madness would end..Stop funding Israels wars and the killing will stop….What say you? One last question, has the decider given you all a date and time of your armagedon departure.?….Blessings
July 25th, 2006 at 12:18 pmZooey, you are so funny…Splattered my screen with coffee with that word….Keep it going…Blessings
July 25th, 2006 at 12:27 pmSen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) is readying a bill that would allow Congress to sue President Bush over his use of presidential signing statements “with the view to having the president’s acts declared unconstitutional.â€
I’ll believe it when I see it enacted.
The House and Senate leadership have decided to put off a vote to lower estates taxes until after the August recess. The delay is considered a “major blow†to the estate tax effort because “the legislative calendar will be crowded with other measures†when Congress returns from its break.
“Crowded”? Well, if the agenda is “crowded” it’s mainly because they work only 97 days per year. Maybe they must attempt to be more “american” and work x2 or x3 jobs
Most Americans blame Hezbollah “a great deal†for initiating the current Mideast crisis, a new USA Today poll shows, though half also say Israel was justified in responding but has now “gone too far.†“Two-thirds say President Bush does not have a clear Mideast policy.â€
Hezbollah, israelis… Hmmmm, what I’m missing from the poll? Oh, yes the innocent civilians killed. They don’t count a lot for the Americans.
The White House said yesterday it has long known about Pakistan’s growing nuclear program that was revealed publicly in yesterday’s Washington Post. “It just didn’t feel like telling Congress, which instead learned about it a few days ago from independent analysts.â€
The WH didn’t wanted to tell the truth to the USA people because they where pushing the case to attack Iran, who has far less (if any) nuclear capacity, and who only will have bombs (if they make them) in a distant future.
The Christian Science Monitor finds, not surprisingly, that the practice of earmarking is “ingrained in Capitol Hill culture.†Case in point: Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) “is attempting a major expansion of the FBI in his state, earmarking millions of dollars for Huntsville facilities the White House did not ask for.â€
Is a deep culture ingrained in the USA behavior: no money, no service, i.e. bribe is mandatory.
And finally: Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman has proposed a new punishment for graffiti vandals: bind them in a medieval-style stocks and give the public a chance to paint their faces. “I want to see if it falls under cruel or unusual punishment. If not, great. Let’s put it into effect.â€
If the USA is so tired of the “Old Europe” why so frecuelty some bozo with a pinch of power acts like a medieval era tyrant?
July 25th, 2006 at 1:03 pmDry weather continues in Georgia today > no rain for almost 4 weeks now around Atlanta > I am becoming worried if no rain for much longer?!
July 25th, 2006 at 2:08 pmHowever, I won’t bring up Bolton’s mustache if you don’t bring up Condi’s cooch again. ;)
Comment by For Truth
We have a deal, my friend.
July 25th, 2006 at 3:13 pmZooey, you are so funny…Splattered my screen with coffee with that word….Keep it going…Blessings
Comment by Sharon Cox
I’m here to serve, my dear. :-D
July 25th, 2006 at 3:35 pmThe people of the US have to see, based on this latest little war, that their country is absolutely incapable of handling any crisis situation. That is because the country is managed, owned and ran by the likes of Bush, his congressional cohorts, and his SCOTUS.
It took our, rather your, government 8 days to get the first person that did not want to be in Lebanon out of there.
It took the government 12 days to even decided that possibly they should become involved. And then what did they do? They sent Condi over there, an avowed destroyer of Lebanon, and she made her first stop in that country. Folks, that takes ball!
The presidents poll numbers for handing this situation is 38%, about the same as all other mishaps.
Your president and your government folks are absolutely worthless. Your congress folks, is absolutely worthless.
Now, while we are allowing the Israelis to destroy Beirut, we are going to give them aid amounting to millions of dollars. Does that make sense? Absolutely not.
You hear a lot about how Hezbollaw is targeting Israel with rockets made in Iran, but folks, do you hear anything about how Israeli is reigning terror on Beirut, using American arms, backing and no how?
Absolutely not-
July 25th, 2006 at 3:48 pm#3,7, & 8. I agree. Congress should start to exercise it’s oversight responsiblity instead of passing a phoney bill that Spector himself will kill or water down to the point of being meaningless.
July 25th, 2006 at 8:32 pmZooey, LOL but if any man were to enter her cooch, it would wilt and rot off.
July 25th, 2006 at 8:48 pm#45, If that is the case, watch GW closely to see if he walks funny.
July 25th, 2006 at 8:58 pm#46; Now that you mention it, I THOUGHT W. was walking kind of weird.
July 25th, 2006 at 9:06 pmIf that is the case, watch GW closely to see if he walks funny.
Comment by Marie
Funnier than usual…? We should have a baseline.
July 25th, 2006 at 9:08 pmZooey, I would watch closer except that I loathe and quickly building up to hate that s.o.b. and turn the channel when he is on. If GWB died, what I will do on his grave will not pass for flowers.
July 25th, 2006 at 9:26 pmHo Chi Minh, I nominate you for the grave decorating committee. :P
Do we have a second…?
GWB is the only person on this earth that I actually hate. He has passed up the monstrously repellant category, usually occupied by my ex-husband, and moved into the hate category. I take what he has done to this world very personally. I’m sure that by the time GWB leaves office, you will get there…
July 25th, 2006 at 9:41 pmCome to think of it, maybe W. was walking that way because he had just been buttf*cked by Cheney once again.
July 25th, 2006 at 9:42 pmBush is the one (and I’ll use the term loosely) person that I hate more than my ex-wife(you really have to go verrrry far to beat that). And his sick band of sycophants too. signing off for the nite.
July 25th, 2006 at 9:46 pmComment by Jason M. Hendler — July 25, 2006 @ 11:09 am
Once again you show your ignorance of Constitutional Law.
Lawyers decry Bush’s legal interpretations
Updated 7/24/2006 9:55 AM ET
http://www.usatoday.com/ news/ washington/ 2006-07-24-lawyers-bush_x.htm
And you seem more worried about whether or not Congress has exceeded its constitutional powers? I guess I have to remind you, each of these signing statements were not attached to laws passed over a Presidential Veto. Congress cannot, by itself pass a law unless it does so over a Presidential Veto. Therefore Congress could not have exceeded its authority in these instances. These bills became law via a Presidential Signature.
And when the President signs a law, he is bound to see that it is faithfully executed.
But then you seem quite content with having a Dictator run your country and your life. I guess I would be happy too, if I were as ignorant as you.
July 25th, 2006 at 11:21 pmFinally rained in my Stone Mountain area of Georgia Tuesday afternoon > massive thundershower with about 2 inches of rain in one hour, so the plants and trees dying from lack of rain, due to drought, have perked up refreshed! Almost 4 weeks of no rain was very scary!
July 26th, 2006 at 3:41 am