ThinkFast: August 7, 2006
ThinkFast: August 7, 2006
Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH), “dogged by an influence peddling probe” into his many connections with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff (like this photo), announced today he “will not seek re-election.”
“President Bush will move U.S. troops out of Iraq if the country descends into civil war, according to one senior Bush aide who declined to be named while talking about internal strategy,” Newsweek reports.
20 percent: Bush’s approval rating among Americans age 18 to 24, with 53 percent disapproving. The Iraq war is a major factor.
Former vice presidential candidate John Edwards “said Saturday the United States should start pulling troops out of Iraq immediately.”
President Karzai’s government “has moved aggressively to crack down on what Afghans call imported vices,” such as alcohol and prostitution. Under the Taliban, the same office “whipped women if their veils slipped and arrested men for wearing too-short beards or playing chess.”
“For the fifth year in a row, unusual wind patterns off the coast of Oregon have produced a large ‘dead zone,’ an area so low in oxygen that fish and crabs suffocate.” “There is no other cause [besides climate change], as far as we can determine,” said Jane Lubchenco, a marine biologist at Oregon State University.
Iraq is “seeing a sudden escalation of brutal attacks on what are being called the ‘immorals’ – homosexual men and children as young as 11 who have been forced into same-sex prostitution.”
Oil giant BP is shutting down its Prudhoe Bay oil field in Alaska “after discovering unexpectedly severe corrosion and a small spill from a transit pipeline.” In early March, BP was criticized for “the largest oil spill ever” in the North Slope, caused by a rupture in one of its corroding Prudhoe pipelines.
And finally: The August recess has officially begun. Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s (D-NJ) office is holding a “Mustache Contest” to see who is “able to claim they grew the best mustache, a la closest to that of Tom Selleck or Burt Reynolds.” “If we find out anyone in the office is tampering or using any products like Rogaine,” said Lautenberg’s press secretary, “they will be eliminated.”
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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Ney says ‘nay’! Hip-Hip-Hooray! That makes my day, I must say, okay?
August 7th, 2006 at 9:15 amWe seem to increasingly criticize our leaders. Isn’t it time to talk about what’s wrong with the people who elect them?
August 7th, 2006 at 9:17 amWhat’s wrong with Americans?
#2 We seem to increasingly criticize our leaders. Isn’t it time to talk about what’s wrong with the people who elect them?
What’s wrong with Americans?
they are lazy, incurious, apathetic, ignorant and always in a state of fear thanks to the fools they chose to elect.
August 7th, 2006 at 9:23 amIt isn’t all the fault of Americans #2, and #3 – remember that the elections were HACKED. So nto as many Americans have voted for these bastards as you may think. Though it is true a lot have. And thats because some really are ” lazy, incurious, apathetic, ignorant and always in a state of fear ” like Jason said. Some also just can’t afford a TV I guess, and/or don’t know how to read.
August 7th, 2006 at 9:31 amcrack down on what Afghans call imported vices,†such as alcohol and prostitution.
This always amazes me. No matter what religion talks about the “ills” that are destorying the values of the society, the holier than thous always say the vices that are happening within the society are imprted or brought in by “some other group” and will destroy us all. Ain’t it great to blame someone else for your own dirty little secrets.
August 7th, 2006 at 9:37 amI you ask me, there is this idea in all amerians about Global superiority. According to this idea, it is ok to do whatever it takes to mantain this so called #1 status: America, the greatest nation in the world (according to what?…) And so, the middle class of US, the strongest middle class in the world cant afford loosing this status achieved by: occupations, landings, warfaring, financial supporting of cruel governments. All for US interests. So, in that sense, the only right thing GWB has said is that: America is addicted to oil.
August 7th, 2006 at 9:43 amRep. Bob Ney (R-OH), “dogged by an influence peddling probe†into his many connections with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff (like this photo), announced today he “will not seek re-election.â€
Boo frickin’ hoo.
August 7th, 2006 at 9:46 am“President Bush will move U.S. troops out of Iraq if the country descends into civil war. . . .”
Interest choice of words. . .does this mean they aren’t coming home, but perhaps moving to some other middel eastern country?
August 7th, 2006 at 9:46 am>>Jennifer Copestake’s film on homosexual executions in Iraq will be shown on More4 News on August 7 at 8pm
August 7th, 2006 at 9:48 amJuan, we must be addicted to more that just oil. How about our sense of righteousness?
August 7th, 2006 at 9:49 amThe August recess has officially begun. Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s (D-NJ) office is holding a “Mustache Contest†to see who is “able to claim they grew the best mustache, a la closest to that of Tom Selleck or Burt Reynolds.†“If we find out anyone in the office is tampering or using any products like Rogaine,†said Lautenberg’s press secretary, “they will be eliminated.â€
Oh god no, no no no, not a Mustache Contest! Must….be…..strong….
August 7th, 2006 at 9:49 amHi, Zoo. Good morning.
August 7th, 2006 at 9:50 amHows the world going in the courts?
It should be noted that Ney’s replacement, Joy Padgett, is a vile human being.
August 7th, 2006 at 9:50 am#8 – Good point! Moving them from Iraq to attack Iran would fulfill this particular promise. Then again, Pres. Bush has flip-flopped more than I can count on just about every promise he ever made, except “tax cuts no matter what!”
Hey, that’s how he can fight “terra”! He can cut more taxes for rich people! That’ll do it!
August 7th, 2006 at 9:51 am“President Bush will move U.S. troops out of Iraq if the country descends into civil war, according to one senior Bush aide who declined to be named while talking about internal strategy,†Newsweek reports.
So, in order to get GWB’s brain around bringing the troops home, Iraq has to become more of a clusterf*ck than it already is. Great….
August 7th, 2006 at 9:52 amHow about our sense of righteousness?
Comment by west virginia hillbilly — August 7, 2006 @ 9:49 am
But you know what? Its the government. From the government (any) comes the conflicts, the call to be a patriot, the alarm of being attacked by evil foreigners: one legend about russians eating children and thats it…you have Cold War. While, in fact, people do get along pretty well.
August 7th, 2006 at 9:54 amHows the world going in the courts?
Comment by Juan C
Good morning, Juan. I don’t know yet, I don’t have to be there for another hour. The university students are coming back to town, so things may be picking up in the criminal world. :(
August 7th, 2006 at 9:54 amRE:NEY
Perhaps the GOP needs a new slogan for their fundraising effort. How about this?
“Because everyone deserves a fund for their defense.”
or……
“Republicans:strong on defense, because we are rife with defendants.”
August 7th, 2006 at 9:55 amSpeaking of university I have to take off. Maybe I can catch up later.
August 7th, 2006 at 9:58 amGood bye and be nice…:)
I don’t think that there is really anything wrong with the voters, there are exceptions to every rule, of course. Like the 30 percent who don’t want to know the truth about the people they vote for. But the remaining 70 percent are at the mercy of the system. Everyone running for office presents themselves like they are going out with someone for a ‘first date’. They look so promising, at first. And you are willing to give them a chance to ‘woo’ you. Time goes by, and one day you wake to find you have no idea who this person REALLY is.
August 7th, 2006 at 9:58 amIt is laudable that John Edwards advocates having 40,000 troops out of Iraq but his call for having the rest of the troops out in 12 to 18 months is cause for lamentation. His plan would still leave roughly 90,000 troops caught up in a civil war, as if they were sitting ducks in a shooting gallery. American troops should not be occupying a country that was never remotely considered to be a threat to this country and is committing atrocities against the Iraqi people on a daily basis. Those troops, ALL the troops, need to be returned to this country as soon as possible, in order to save the lives of Iraqis and Americans alike.
August 7th, 2006 at 10:00 amPresident Karzai’s government “has moved aggressively to crack down on what Afghans call imported vices,†such as alcohol and prostitution. Under the Taliban, the same office “whipped women if their veils slipped and arrested men for wearing too-short beards or playing chess.â€
Iraq is “seeing a sudden escalation of brutal attacks on what are being called the ‘immorals’ – homosexual men and children as young as 11 who have been forced into same-sex prostitution.â€
And GWB was focused on Saddam’s cruelty…
August 7th, 2006 at 10:01 amWell said, Erroll.
August 7th, 2006 at 10:02 am“President Bush will move U.S. troops out of Iraq if the country descends into civil war”?
August 7th, 2006 at 10:02 amWhat?!?! Cut and Run??
…
Insane. Iraq was a powder keg and this Administration lit the match. Yes, Saddam Hussein is gone, but was it worth this price?
Juan,
Have a great day. I’m always nice…!
August 7th, 2006 at 10:03 amTwenty per cent approval among young people – and supposedly they were not paying attention! Seems like their parents could pick up some opinions from their kids. Twenty per cent accounts for the brainwashed, braindead – eighty percent disapproval is where the nation should be, and would be if it were paying attention.
August 7th, 2006 at 10:04 amAt that percentage, it would be far more difficult to “fix” the elections and the Diebold machines.
Insane. Iraq was a powder keg and this Administration lit the match. Yes, Saddam Hussein is gone, but was it worth this price?
Comment by S.D.
In a word, SD — no.
August 7th, 2006 at 10:05 amCondi and the Chimp are giving an AUDIO press conferene from the ranch. Hmmm, are they still in their pajamas?
August 7th, 2006 at 10:07 amShe can’t give a direct answer to any question.
He talks in circles and non sequiturs.
What a pair of idiots.
Marie,
GWB is still in his gimp suit, and Condi’s hair is all dry and stiking up on one side. Too much work…
August 7th, 2006 at 10:09 amLike I’ve said before, I refuse to have TV at this time for reasons of distraction. But I also miss what the hell these freakin’ television political pundits say, unless of course I get it online, which so happens today. I say OUTLAW political hacks. They have NOTHING to say but what is purely THEIR opinion, and frankly, I am sick of it. I, have the ability to think for myself, research for myself, etc…the problem is the MASSES WHO ARE TOO LAZY AND ALLOW THESE PEOPLE TO THINK FOR THEM….
COKIE ROBERTS IS A TRAITOR
ABC’s Roberts: “Disaster” for party if Democrats nominate candidate who agrees with Americans on Iraq
August 7th, 2006 at 10:11 amHa! yeah – bed head morning!
August 7th, 2006 at 10:12 amShe is trying to excuse their letting the bloodbath continue, awaiting a cease fire.
(Read – let Israel gain a strong foothold in occupying Lebanon BEFORE we demand a cease fire.)
Insane. Iraq was a powder keg and this Administration lit the match. Yes, Saddam Hussein is gone, but was it worth this price?
You do realize that Saddam kept IRAN at bay…
August 7th, 2006 at 10:17 amMarie,
I’ve found that in addition to not being able to look at GWB or Condi, I can no longer listen to either of them. It makes me want to snatch out my hair, and that’s not a good look for me.
August 7th, 2006 at 10:18 am#29- Zooey- Thanks alot! I just threw up in my mouth a little. It is WAY to early to have such yuckyness floating around in my brain. Those two, ‘bumping uglies’… EEEEEEEEEEEKKK!!!!! I must now slap myself across the face, and hope the pain of it drives those other thoughts to the next galaxy. Foulness. ;)
August 7th, 2006 at 10:21 amHEADS UP – Like I said THEY WILL STOP AT NOTHING
The Republican Party has a new voter registration project in Fresno. It involves luring people to sign a LEGALIZE MARIJUANA petition and then re-registering them as Republicans.
August 7th, 2006 at 10:21 amCokie Roberts: “She also stated that “it will send a signal to everybody in the Senate: ‘Watch out. The only smart thing to do here is play to your base.’ And then … what that means is that your legislation becomes a mess,” in which case, “you get … total chaos.”
Yeah, Cokie, our Senators shouldn’t actually represent the people who elected them — why would they start doing that now, anyway?
August 7th, 2006 at 10:22 amGood Morning all, Yep the bull shit bush dead eyed rice media breadfast in bed report is now on lasting way longer than I can tolerate…Where’s Laura.? Looking for a set of car key’s maybe.?…..Just another day in bizarro bush world, I just wish they would STFU……..Blessings and Peace.
August 7th, 2006 at 10:23 am#34 – Cyra,
Sometimes things need a little shaking up on a Monday morning — it drives out the cobwebs.
I’m here to serve. :)
August 7th, 2006 at 10:24 am“We regret that it is necessary to take this action and we apologize to the nation and the State of Alaska for the adverse impacts it will cause,” BP America Chairman and President Bob Malone said in a prepared statement.
So let me get this straight. BP makes ungodly profits, apparently hasn’t kept up on its preventive maintenance of its pipelines, doesn’t seem to reinvest these profits on upkeep ot the pipelines and for these bad management practices will be earning more profit because this will raise the price of gas. What a racket. Anyway I thought that it took about a half a year for new oil to enter and affect the gas supply.
August 7th, 2006 at 10:25 amPosters, you are all a riot today. I lost it all over the keyboard with Cyras bumping uglies thing and the rest of you made it worth sleeping in and joining the group…Finelly dumb shit and his girl friend are off, the air that is…..Blessings
August 7th, 2006 at 10:32 amAre the Bush tax cuts working? The answer is a resounding NO!
Xerox Corporation has announced that they are going to use a 400 million tax windfall to LAY OFF PEOPLE.
Large and small businesses all over the country are doing the same thing, maybe not laying off people, but no using the tax cuts for the intended and announced purpose, to expand, buy more machinery and to hire more people. They are using the tax cuts for the purpose of GREED. More money in their pockets and golden parachutes for their directors.
My brother owns a plastics company in a Chicago suburb. He hires only illegal aliens at minimum wage, except for his foremen. I asked him last year if he was going to use his tax cuts to expand. He gave a definite NO. He was going to put the extra cash into his own retirement fund and sell the business. The extra gained profit would be a huge selling point.
Are the oil companies using the extra profits gained from huge tax cuts and giveaways by the administration to expand. No, they are using the extra cash as golden parachutes for retiring directors.
The only expansion in corporations is coming from those corporations who make their living off the government, defense, etc. This does nothing to help the economy, but rather is a drain on the economy.
Trickle down economics does not work. Did not work in the past, and is not working now. We can only hope that the republicans, who love giving money away to the already rich, will be defeated at the polls resoundingly in the upcoming round of elections in this year, and in 2008.
August 7th, 2006 at 10:38 amI think it’s kind of nice that the BushCo cheerleaders, like ‘Cokie’, for example, are starting to realize that all of these years of doing what BushCo wanted them to do, now has a really good chance of coming back to haunt them. If the Democrats take over either the House or the Senate, or both, (oh please, oh please), they won’t be eager to just forgive them, and move on. I know some of them will lose their jobs. The excess of Righties, littering the MSM right now, won’t be needed to gang up on the Lefties anymore. Bye-Bye, LICE! What has been going around, will be coming around, and we will get to see it happen. That is so rare anymore.
August 7th, 2006 at 10:46 amI think Cokie Roberts’ expertise has always been political “tactics”. The Lamont/Lieberman race is all about party “direction and strategy”. The Republicans have benefitted immensely by portraying the Democratic Party as without core values and principles. Unfortunately, the more the Democrats concentrate on “tactics”, the more they open themselves to the Republican spin.
The county is with us; Bush’s popularity is in the toilet. The Republican congress has been a rubber stamp and is wildly unpopular as well. Tactics be damned; full speed ahead “Lamont-style”! Hopefully Lamont will push the party leadership toward a more combative, principled stand.
Here’s to hoping, at least.
August 7th, 2006 at 10:49 amWhile on Forums and blogs the normal rules are suspended, this is my take on the problem as an outsider looking in:
Liberal Americans got sold the line that talking about anything of substance is basically crass. An atheist cannot argue religion with a Christian, because to logically assert that Christianity is a load of bollocks, is rude. To call a conservative out in public for all of the idiocy that conservative leaders have put the world through, is rude.
America is basically in the grip of the lie that what everyone needs is to be allowed their own neat little preconceptions, IE everyone should just let the sleeping thickies lie, and the ones who are awake to just keep on lying. Contradicting a wrong statement is seen as a put down, and thus being rude.
At the same time, Conservative Americans pride themselves on being politically incorrect. They see being unpleasant as being honest, whereas it really isn’t its just unpleasant. A Christian Fundamentalist will scream out loud about how he or she has found the lord, and how everyone else now has to do the same, a Conservative will delight in talking about how something a Liberal did was a failure, often whether it was a failure or not. If you disagree with them, well then YOU are the rude one, not them.
There is a double standard, and neither side is particularly healthy in its stance. The left has to be prepared to start calling a spade a spade, not just on the internet in public, and the right needs to grow a pair. Seriously, for all the left is angry right now, for all it is seriously PO’ed about the crap that the right has been pulling, it is the rightwing that most often tries to play the martyr.
August 7th, 2006 at 10:55 amGood posts all, did any one else see thuthout post that bull shit bush has had 0ver 380 vacation day’s during his presidency. And it isn’t over yet. I had a dreadful thought this morning while reading that….I worked for a company once that made us do make up day’s for time lost….Damn…If this bunch of liers and thieves know that old boss of mine we are in deep shit….The nut bag will be in an extra year……LOL….Blessings
August 7th, 2006 at 10:59 amBruce, right on. The extreme right – who scream the loudest, are absolutely the opposite of ANYTHING honorable, ethical, and righteous.
August 7th, 2006 at 11:00 am44 Bruce Gorton
August 7th, 2006 at 11:03 amGood points. Progressives need to recognize that it is NOT the same process to criticize someone’s personal beliefs as it is to criticize someone’s public policies based on those beliefs. I have a right to my Christian beliefs, but I have no right to have them sanctioned by the government as laws. Arguing with me (or my arguing with a fundamentalist Christian who holds beliefs that are not consistent with my beliefs) about religion is indeed rude unless those beliefs are being used to justify a public policy. Then, it is not only fair game, it is an American duty to criticize.
#44- Bruce, sometimes that is what is needed, another person, looking with clear eyes, and then telling us what THEY saw. You nailed it, Bruce! And you said it so well, even those who won’t want to admit it out loud, will find themselves nodding in agreement. Great post! Thank you!
August 7th, 2006 at 11:10 amGM’s loss is due to poor business practices. They should take a page from the oil companies’ strategy and cut production in half. Profits should soar through the roof after that,
August 7th, 2006 at 11:12 amShame on Ney! He should run again, so the Dems would have a slam dunk victory against him.
August 7th, 2006 at 11:30 amLet’s make this perfectly clear – despite what any Bush senior aides say - US troops are in Iraq permanently (or at least while Bush is in office).
August 7th, 2006 at 11:35 amThey have spent many many millions building military bases in Iraq so large they are small cities. This has been the plan all along, and that is why Bush continues to maintain that the troops will stay.
Americans are going to be forced to march on DC to end the Iraq war, and to force the Bush Regime from power > about 10 to 20 million people are needed to scare the crap out of the Congress to force Bush out!
August 7th, 2006 at 11:58 am#52 Jay,
I’m ready!
August 7th, 2006 at 12:47 pm[...] Think Progress [...]
August 7th, 2006 at 5:23 pmRe: Ney
Two word: “William Jefferson”.
August 7th, 2006 at 6:57 pmRe: Ney
Two word: “William Jeffersonâ€.
Comment by rickd
So, what’s your point? To say there can be corrupt Democrats? No kidding! I doubt any progressives are going to defend William Jefferson. Both corrupt. Ney just part of a larger culture of corruption.
August 7th, 2006 at 7:14 pmIf there is a planned march in DC to protest the war and/or remove Bush, I will go.
August 7th, 2006 at 8:25 pmI went to the last DC march in September where 100,000+ were essentially ignored by the mass media – but I will join the next organized march.
@2 jason baddo: we are fools to be led by fools.
August 7th, 2006 at 9:23 pmOoops, meant #3 Jason. sorry.
August 7th, 2006 at 9:24 pmPresident Bush will move U.S. troops out of Iraq if the country descends into civil war.
Ironic isn’t it? LOL.
August 7th, 2006 at 9:30 pmHo Chi Minh,
More like “moronic.”
August 7th, 2006 at 9:53 pm