ThinkFast: August 30, 2006
ThinkFast: August 30, 2006
“President Bush will launch another major public-relations offensive to strengthen support for the Iraq war — this time likely emphasizing the high stakes and changing nature of the battle more than the progress being made.” The new series of speeches begins tomorrow at the annual American Legion convention in Utah and will continue through the 9/11 anniversary.
$32.7 million: the average compensation in 2005 of the CEOs of the largest 15 oil companies, according to a new study.
Fox News ratings have plummeted, down 28 percent since Aug. 2005.
The new Census figures show “the gap between the richest and poorest Americans widened last year.” “What have been missing,” the New York Times explains, are policies “like strong support for public education, a progressive income tax, affordable health care, a higher minimum wage and other labor protections.”
Former President Jimmy Carter has expressed his willingness to meet with former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami after Iranians indicated their desire for such a meeting. Carter’s spokesman said, “He believes that it is much better to be talking to people who you have problems with than not to, and that’s the approach he takes now.”
A day after a U.S. military spokesman said “we are actually seeing progress” in Baghdad, Iraqi police found 27 bodies “in three separate locations” around the city yesterday. “They included 11 bullet-riddled corpses discovered near a school in a Shiite neighborhood of south Baghdad and 13 more dumped behind a Shiite mosque in the west of the city.”
Women are suddenly scarce among Supreme Court justice clerks, accounting for only 7 of the 37 clerkships for the new term. That is “the first time the number has been in the single digits since 1994, when there were 4,000 fewer women among the country’s new law school graduates than there are today.”
Former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage acknowledged he was the primary source for Robert Novak and Bob Woodward on Valerie Plame’s identity as a CIA officer.
Hospitals in Iraq have become the war’s new “killing fields.” “In growing numbers, sick and wounded Sunnis have been abducted from public hospitals operated by Iraq’s Shiite-run Health Ministry and later killed.”
And finally: Blanco chokes, Wolf doesn’t. “Gov. Blanco of Louisiana chokes while being interviewed by Wolf Blitzer on Late Edition. Wolf keeps his cool. Of course he does. He’s Wolf Blitzer.”
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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Democrats should not go on FOX.
August 30th, 2006 at 9:14 amDemocrats should not watch FOX.
Period.
A joke from Dancer in the comments at Digby
"Bush was taking a walk one day when he encountered a little girl carrying a box. He ask her what was in the box and she replied, as she let him peek inside, that they were Republican kittens. In fact he did observe several newborn kittens in the box and it, naturally excited him that she identified them as REPUBLICAN so he praised her and went on. A week later he was walking with Karl Rove when he, again, encountered the same little girl carrying her box. He hurried Rove over to have him take a look and for Karl's benefit inquired of the girl what she had in the box. "Democratic kittens", she replied. Bush perplexed and disappointed said, "But when I asked you what was in the box you said, "Republican kittens"! "Yes", said the girl, "But now their eyes are open!"
August 30th, 2006 at 9:18 amHow many of Bush's speeches regarding the Iraq war will be open to the public? Zero. I can't believe this administration hasn't yet caught on to the fact that the American people don't trust them and don't believe their lies. We pay their f****** salaries and yet that last thing they will allow is providing a forum where citizens can ask questions. Of course, they don't want the Commander-in-Chimp to once again look like an idiot.
August 30th, 2006 at 9:21 am#2 - That's a sweet little story, particularly considering its simplistic nature, it has to be very simple in order for the people who continue to restrict their intellect to the broken two party system to comprehend.
August 30th, 2006 at 9:25 amTinkle-down Economics 101:
August 30th, 2006 at 9:34 am
I believe it was during the 2004 campaign that Bush gave a speech, either at the American Legion or the VFW, that a gentleman in his 70s sat in the audience, seemingly hanging to every word our leader was saying. This devoted attention to Bush's speech proved to be unfounded when what at first appeared to be a hearing aid that this man wore on his ear was, at closer inspection, a small semi- circular sign which read BULL S**t DETECTOR. The hope is that this man will again be in the audience [if the Secret Service agents do not spot him first] to confront Bush and his audience with a very strong sense of reality and to alert our leader that his tall tales this time are not going to fly.
August 30th, 2006 at 9:36 amI'll give you 444 reasons why Carter should NOT meet with any Iranian president.
Why is the left hung up on appeasing our most vicious enemies?
August 30th, 2006 at 9:38 amOK, CEOs and high level managers should make a very good salary (I've been a high level manager in a small private social service agency) since they have a lot of responsibility. But, it is absurd to pay anyone $30M. There is just no justification for such an outlandish salary for anyone, anywhere, anytime. Those kind of salaries mean workers and consumers are being stiffed. Just cutting that to $15M means 1500 other workers could have $10K salary increases. Or 30M gallons of gas could be sold for 50-cents a gallon less. And this is for just one CEO.
August 30th, 2006 at 9:40 amIn other news:
Homegrown terror suspects raise concern
By LARA JAKES JORDAN, Associated Press Writer Tue Aug 29, 2:36 PM ET
Yet the Reich-wing persists in calling for racial profiling. Of course, the knee-jerk reaction to "home-grown" terrorists will be to further reduce civil liberties for securities sake. The ultimate victory of "terrorists" will be to watch America turn itself into an authoritarian totalitarian state under a repressive regime where there are two classes of society, the oppressors and the oppressed.
This is why we must address the root causes of "terrorism." Fighting "terrorism" with violence and oppression is like fighting a fire by pouring gasoline on it.
August 30th, 2006 at 9:45 am8 Briseadh na Faire
August 30th, 2006 at 9:49 amHere! Here!
TINKLE-down Economics 101:
I have mine, piss on you!
August 30th, 2006 at 9:50 amPLC - that's why I suggested earlier that we consider a "maximum wage law" to compliment our "minimum wage law." How much is too much? Of course, that was the concept behind the progressive income tax. But "tinkle-down economics" is based on the premise that no amount of compensation is too great for the wealthy; that if the privileged few become wealthy enough, the masses will be better off.
August 30th, 2006 at 9:50 am10 west virginia hillbilly
August 30th, 2006 at 9:51 amAbsolutely hilarious (except for the "true" part)
“President Bush will launch another major public-relations offensive to strengthen support for the Iraq war...
If it's right, why the need for a PR offensive?
August 30th, 2006 at 10:07 amThis devoted attention to Bush’s speech proved to be unfounded when what at first appeared to be a hearing aid that this man wore on his ear was, at closer inspection, a small semi- circular sign which read BULL S**t DETECTOR.
Wasn't it a BULL S**T DEFLECTOR? That guy was awesome...although I think they tried to swiftboat him after that.
August 30th, 2006 at 10:07 amBriseadh na Faire
August 30th, 2006 at 10:07 amI like the concept that Ben and Jerry (ice cream moguls) used: their wage structure established that the highest paid person got no more than 7 times that which the lowest person got. I am not sure this can or should be legislated because each industry is very different. But, there is no reason that Boards should not morally adopt such a wage structure. Except, of course, for a different definition of "morality".
“President Bush will launch another major public-relations offensive to strengthen support for the Iraq war… If it’s right, why the need for a PR offensive?
Comment by Zooey
Fantastic point - a question that some journalist ought to ask.
August 30th, 2006 at 10:09 amFox News ratings have plummeted, down 28 percent since Aug. 2005.
Keep up the good fight, mom & dad! You keep Fox on 24/7, and the rating will surely rise...
August 30th, 2006 at 10:11 amThe new Census figures show “the gap between the richest and poorest Americans widened last year.â€
I'm just so proud that Paris Hilton can wear her skanky-assed dresses and carry her tiny little handbags -- so we can be proud, while so many more Americans are lining up at the food bank.
August 30th, 2006 at 10:14 amit was "bullshit protector" ... get yours here:
August 30th, 2006 at 10:16 amhttp://www.boingboing.net/2005/08/24/diy_bullshit_protect.html
A day after a U.S. military spokesman said “we are actually seeing progress†in Baghdad, Iraqi police found 27 bodies “in three separate locations†around the city yesterday.
Only 27 bodies? Wow! When the families are informed of the death of their loved one, they will be able to rest easy...
August 30th, 2006 at 10:17 amFormer Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage acknowledged he was the primary source for Robert Novak and Bob Woodward on Valerie Plame’s identity as a CIA officer.
Excuse me, TP, ahem...um, why is this information a tiny blurb 3/4 of the way down the ThinkFast thread?
August 30th, 2006 at 10:19 amsorry, dlc are frauds...
the dems need to voice their stance wherever and whenever offered that chance... the problem is that they are basically censored... and IF invited on any show, there are always at least 2 repugs to "balance" things...
it's that "liberal media" bias, after all...
August 30th, 2006 at 10:21 amKaty
We have to stealthily get those devices passed out among those American Legion and VFW members. An amazing sight to see. THAT is what America is all about. Perhaps it might make Bush's speeches even more fractured than they normally are.
August 30th, 2006 at 10:24 amTINKLE-down Economics 101: I have mine, piss on you!
Comment by west virginia hillbilly — August 30, 2006 @ 9:50 am
see what great things happen when we work together!
kudos to brisneadh na faire and west virginia hillbilly!
and - the above is an apt reply to just about anything offered up by
August 30th, 2006 at 10:25 amthe jasons, rogers, etc...
i suggest keeping it handy - won't be long now...
Fox News ratings have been soaring for months and years, so a pull back was expected, especially with so many young Republicans going back to college.
It would be interesting to see what time period that survey covered, and what effect the Israeli - Lebanese conflict had on those numbers. It could be that Dems tuned into the story after sitting on the sidelines for awhile.
August 30th, 2006 at 10:26 am#22, katy,
You mean, just like Bill Maher balances his Real Time show with 3 libs on 1 conservative in his panels (where they still prevail)? Add to that, satellite interviews with 3 more libs, including Kermit of the dailyKermit, who wriggles in his seat like he's smuggling a hamster?
August 30th, 2006 at 10:29 amno comparison, and you know that...
but, how 'bout that timeing, folks! eh? what'd i tell ya!
August 30th, 2006 at 10:31 amPresident Bush will launch another major public-relations offensive
Yeah, it's very offensive to me: "And now this special offer from your Commander In Chief. An American occupation of a soveriegn nation designed with the care that only a true purveyor of distortions can demonstrate. But wait! That's not all! For "freedom" you also get more enemies and a perpetual mission machine that guarantees the need for continued occupation for years to come. And all this for the low, low price of billions of money borrowed from other sovereign nations. [In small print, "and the death of some of your neighbors and family members"] Don't be the last one in your community to share in this fantastic dream offer from your Commander in Chief. Obey orders, now!"
August 30th, 2006 at 10:32 am“like strong support for public education, a progressive income tax, affordable health care, a higher minimum wage and other labor protections.â€
We already have public education and are spending billions on it. Yet, a friend from another country just sent his kid back home to boarding school, because the high school he was attending was teaching subject matter that was covered in the 4th grade back home! Great job, liberals.
We have a progressive income tax. The poorest half the population doesn't pay any income tax whatsoever, and receive tax credits. That's right. They get your tax money via a redistribution scheme. For the top half, the tax rates go up the more money you make, aka "progressive."
Health care is an issue, but it can't simply be given away for free. Not unless doctors and nurses are willing to work for much less money. I doubt they are.
Minimum wage does nothing to reduce poverty. It's for entry level jobs that require extremely low skill sets. High school kids frying chicken strips and such.
On labor protections (and wages), perhaps you folks aren't aware that there are folks in other countries willing to do some the same work Americans do for 10% of the cost. The responsibility is for the American worker to obtain higher levels of education and/or skill sets to make themselves more valuable.
August 30th, 2006 at 10:32 amand don't forget this favorite tidbit from Jason, who has yet to address the issue of why he's not enlisting:
Don't worry, no sane person would ever bother asking a liberal to defend their country, so you can stay safe in your flip-flops and bermuda shorts.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler
August 30th, 2006 at 10:35 am...it is absurd to pay anyone $30M. There is just no justification...
Comment by PLC (PatrioticLiberalChristian) — August 30, 2006 @ 9:40 am
and i agree... the question i always have when hearing of these stats is, "how much do you NEED?" ... you can't take it with you, so what is the reasoning behind acquiring - and hoarding - so much wealth? greed and selfishness are just plain sinful, by any standard...
August 30th, 2006 at 10:38 am#30 - DRxJ,
August 30th, 2006 at 10:47 amJason has a mental deferment.
Listen up Americans, cheap and useless focus group sloganeering isn't free. We have to pay pollsters alot of money to come up with the trite shit that we repeat over and over again.
-The Bush/Coulter Republican Party
August 30th, 2006 at 10:50 amGood Morning all, Great posts BnF and Zooey.......Another hump day and I note bush's humpee in right on Q...Oh Well some people have to sell them selves to get paid...Every mean spieited or lieing word count's in the royal court of king george....
Hot off the press ...Ernesto reduced to a tropical storm....bush will be reduced to an ordinary citizen with no county that likes him by 2009 providing there is anything left, anywhere....Laura is stumping for the republican drunk running for the senate in Washington state..Cheney must not of done a good enough job and bush must be on yet another vacation.......Blessings, pass them on....Peace, for the children of the world.
August 30th, 2006 at 10:53 am62 troops this month alone total now 2638
Why can America sacrifice so many soldiers for a lie
August 30th, 2006 at 11:03 amre #32
WaltTheMan:
I will not let your accusations against Jason, go unanswered. Jason it NOT a mental defective; he is a coward, plain and simple.
August 30th, 2006 at 11:09 amYes sir, Yes Maam, step right up!
August 30th, 2006 at 11:34 amGet your public relations offensive propaganda program. Can't tell the good guys from the bad guys without a program.
Step right up, you there, would you like to give me your children's eduction fund so I can spend it killing Iraqis and Afghanis? thank you very much sir, what? What's that you say, you won't give me your daughter's college funding? Why you unpatriotic, terror loving SOB!
Oh, my mic's still on!
Hey SS, come get this ....
I have said it before and I'll say it again... Jimmy Carter is a true American hero. I am glad somebody is going to speak with the Iranian president. Is Khatami a little crazy? It sure seems so, but NOT meeting with him just fuels what he is saying about us to Iran and the middle east. We have to start working with them, instead of taking an attack posture, if we truly want to difuse the middle east.
But I honestly believe BushCo has no desire for middle eastern stability and good relations. In order for their form of fascism to take hold, they need somebody to hate.
We're at war with Eastasia. We've always been at war with Eastasia...
August 30th, 2006 at 11:55 amYou know I'd say Bush should go into PR after his presidency since that's what he's been doing the most, but he even sucks at that. So really apart from prevaricating and stubborness - two of his most prominent attributes - what special skill does he have?
August 30th, 2006 at 11:56 amThe rise of the FOURTH REICH
Arabic T-shirt Sparks Airport Row
by Tony Pugh
An architect of Iraqi descent has said he was forced to remove a T-shirt that bore the words "We will not be silent" before boarding a flight at New York.
A demonstrator wears a similar T-shirt at a New York protest in July. (Photo: AP)
Raed Jarrar said security officials warned him his clothing was offensive after he checked in for a JetBlue flight to California on 12 August.
Mr Jarrar said he was shocked such an action could be taken in the US.
US transport officials are conducting an inquiry after a complaint from the US Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.
JetBlue said it was also investigating the incident but a spokeswoman said: "We're not clear exactly what happened."
'Authoritarian regimes'
Mr Jarrar's black cotton T-shirt bore the slogan in both Arabic and English.
He said he had cleared security at John F Kennedy airport for a flight back to his home in California when he was approached by two men who wanted to check his ID and boarding pass.
Mr Jarrar said he was told a number of passengers had complained about his T-shirt - apparently concerned at what the Arabic phrase meant - and asked him to remove it.
He refused, arguing that the slogan was not offensive and citing his constitutional rights to free expression.
Mr Jarrar later told a New York radio station: "I grew up and spent all my life living under authoritarian regimes and I know that these things happen.
"But I'm shocked that they happened to me here, in the US."
After a difficult exchange with airline staff, Mr Jarrar was persuaded to wear another T-shirt bought for him at the airport shop.
"We Will Not Be Silent" is a slogan adopted by opponents of the war in Iraq and other conflicts in the Middle East.
It is said to derive from the White Rose dissident group which opposed Nazi rule in Germany.
August 30th, 2006 at 12:18 pmwhat would my government do to me if they knew I owned a copy of the Koran, have a poster that cites the 99 names of Allah, a pendant my sister gave me with arabic writing (probably a Koran passage), and I own TWO prayer rugs - one from Iran, the other I'm not so sure of. All of these things were GIVEN to me.
August 30th, 2006 at 12:21 pmOff topic, well maybe not.......A tiny true story. Wed. Aug.30, 2006...I as you all know manage a tiny fishing resort, not far from where many of our Navy ships dock...
First thing this morning 3 young men in their 20's came to rent a boat to go fishing. They had to walk past my old truck tail gate (my moving bill board for librals) and my upside down flag....All three were from southern states.. Comments and could they help regarding the flag and praise for my tailgate....Then I thanked them for their service to our country and added " I hoped none of them had to go to Iraq and wished no one did" and a wonderful exchange began......THIS IS A DIAMOND DAY FOR ME....We all talked openly about what a miserable bunch are running our country....I told them I supported them but not this administration or rummy/ bush/ cheney and all. Guess what, they were extatic and joyful with agreement..Also I was totaly against this illegal war. Again they agreed...All of these wonderful young men had several major thing's to say, few people are telling them they have our support, No one had ever thanked them for their service before today, little true back home new's is getting through when they are on duty, and ofcourse it is the service code "never talk down" the camander in chief or higher up's no matter what....We all know that......Guess I must of reminded them of their grandmas and they told me a lot.......They are out fishing as I type, hope they catch some good trout or a big bass..
The point I would like to make is, we need to make our stand clear....I told them all about some of the sites I viset like here at TP, truth out and many others so while they are on shore duty they can check thing's out if they wish...These young people with great hope all joined to do their duty and further their education as that was the only way they could afford the promised education. They added they will likely not see any action in this dreadful war.
Note...Limbaugh and a few like him is all they get to listen to, anything else is frowned on or blocked.......Isen't that interesting......So we on the left need to speak out at every event, or after all speeches......We must tell these young people we do care and we want the madness to stop.....Isn't it odd I was the first one to thank them for their service......I will remember nd so will they..........Blessings, give them away.....Peace, preach it daily
August 30th, 2006 at 12:26 pmBREAKING: Carter to offer return of 1979 U.S. embassy hostages to Iran in opening gambit to Khatami. (Reuters, 30/8/06)
August 30th, 2006 at 1:37 pmSaw this at Glenn Greenwald's blog - glenngreenwald.blogspot.com
Ahhh. Guilt by association. You might be a terrorists because a family member was convicted.
Dangerous times, folks.
August 30th, 2006 at 1:57 pmGreat Post WC, what we don't know is going to be major issues in the future...The administration full of secrecy and public lies.....The worst administration in the history of our country........We need Blessings........Peace, demand it.....Thank's again for all you're good posts.
Madshell..How's the weather over there.? Great post's from you as well.....
August 30th, 2006 at 2:15 pm#43, stevesh,
Thanks for that one - it was my first hard laugh of the day. After Carter "helped" Clintion during the 90's, you think he would have stopped helping then. I guess we need Carter to pop up now and again to remind us why Democrats do NOT hold power in any of the 3 branches of our federal government.
August 30th, 2006 at 3:31 pm[...] Think Progress [...]
August 30th, 2006 at 5:04 pm#43 - Excellent, Sharon.
August 30th, 2006 at 10:55 pmmacaca part II
http://www.9news.com/acm_news.aspx?OSGNAME=KUSA&IKOBJECTID=623246ff-0abe-421a-00c4-1f930cd06d60&TEMPLATEID=0c76dce6-ac1f-02d8-0047-c589c01ca7bf
Beauprez apologizes for abortion comments
Created: 8/30/2006 9:07 PM MST - Updated: 8/30/2006 9:07 PM MST
DENVER (AP) - Rep. Bob Beauprez (R-Colorado) apologized Wednesday for misquoting a statistic about abortion rates among blacks during an interview with Colorado Public Radio.
Planned Parenthood and the Colorado American Civil Liberties Union criticized Beauprez's comment that 70 percent of pregnancies among blacks end in abortion.
"I was wrong about the statistic I quoted in a recent interview with Colorado Public Radio and I apologize to the African American community and anyone else who was offended," Beauprez said in a written statement released by his campaign. "I should have verified the statistic before repeating it."
Beauprez made his comments in response to a question on Colorado Public Radio's "Colorado Matters" this week. Beauprez said that if Roe v. Wade were overturned, he would sign a law banning abortion, unless the mother's life was in danger. He said he would not support abortion in cases of rape and said that such "extreme exceptions" have been used to justify "carte blanche" abortion policy that has led to more than 1 million abortions each year in the U.S.
"Tragically, I think, in some of our ethnic communities we're seeing very, very high percentages of babies, children, pregnancies end in abortion. And I think that it's time we have an out-in-the-open discussion about what that means," Beauprez said during the interview.
Interviewer Ryan Warner asked Beauprez which ethnic communities.
"I've seen numbers as high as 70 percent, maybe even more, in the African-American community that I think is just appalling. And I'm not saying it's appalling on them. I'm saying it's appalling that something's happening to encourage that," Beaupres said.
Beauprez's campaign said Beauprez apparently confused his numbers.
The Alan Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights organization in New York and Washington, estimated in 2002 that 43 percent of conceptions among black women ended in abortion, compared with 18 percent for whites. Its report in 2002 said black women were almost four times as likely as white women to have an abortion, and Hispanic women were 2.5 times as likely.
Groups including Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains and ACLU of Colorado released a statement saying, in part, "With his ignorance on the subject, Congressman Beauprez has provided yet another example why health care decisions should be made by a woman, in consultation with her doctor, her family and her conscience, not by the government or politicians."
August 30th, 2006 at 11:14 pmgreat story, sharon... thanks for sharing that...
August 31st, 2006 at 1:18 amyou lead a very interesting life... good for you!