ThinkFast: March 22, 2007
ThinkFast: March 22, 2007
Bob Novak reports conservatives are angry at CIA Director Michael Hayden for telling Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) that Valerie Plame was covert. “Waxman’s statement astounded Republicans whose queries about her had been rebuffed by the agency. That confirmed Republican suspicions that Hayden is too close to Democrats. … When Hayden’s role was pointed out to one of the president’s most important aides, there was no response.”
A review 1,400 veterans hospitals has turned up more than 1,000 reports of substandard conditions. In response, VA Sec. Jim Nicholson this week ordered “immediate corrective action” to fix the problems. Bobby Muller of the Veterans for America said, “There is a social contract between a country and those it sends to war, and America’s social contract is broken.”
“Three of the eight federal prosecutors ousted by the Justice Department as poor performers ranked in the top 10 for prosecutions and convictions by the nation’s 93 U.S. attorneys, an analysis of court records shows.” A fourth prosecutor “ranked among the top third of all U.S. attorneys during four of the past five years.”
House Democratic leaders pressed undecided lawmakers yesterday to support the Iraq war supplemental spending bill, which House leaders expect to vote on this evening. One House Democratic leadership aid said, “We’re close, but not there yet.” The leadership’s vote round-up was given a boost this week by MoveOn.org’s decision to back the bill.
“In a stinging, wide-ranging assessment,” Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Stuart Bowen found the U.S. was “unprepared for the extensive nation-building required after it invaded Iraq, and at each juncture where it could have adjusted its efforts, it failed even to understand the problems it faced.”
3,000: Number of military sexual assault reports filed in 2006, compared to 2,400 in 2005. “Action was taken against 780 people, from courts-martial and discharges to other administrative remedies.”
“Hurricane Katrina drained nearly 300,000 people from coastal areas between Texas and the Florida Panhandle, according to new government population estimates that tally for the first time the storm’s devastating toll on the Gulf Coast.”
“Public housing projects damaged by Hurricane Katrina would not be knocked down until the U.S. government has a plan to replace them under a bill” passed by the House yesterday. It would “also would grant tenants who lived in New Orleans public housing before the storm the right to return to homes and apartments subsidized by the government.”
The Pentagon is “quietly seeking congressional approval for significant new military sales to US allies in the Persian Gulf region” to counter Iranian influence. The sale of arms -could “spark concerns that further military buildup in the volatile region would bring Washington closer to a confrontation with Iran.”
And finally: NoDoz is no longer just for “hard-partying college students leaving their homework to the last possible moment.” Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) takes them “like candy” — two a day “at 200 milligrams of caffeine a pop.” Wilson explained, “I love coffee, but I don’t have time to drink it.”
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Isn’t it amazing how the Dems are publicly going back on their campaign promise. First they say they are against this war. Now they are the ones extending and supporting it. Very very amazing. Ok, lets hear the defense from this crowd again how this is ok and the right thing…..
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:10 am“In a stinging, wide-ranging assessment,†Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Stuart Bowen found the U.S. was “unprepared for the extensive nation-building required after it invaded Iraq, and at each juncture where it could have adjusted its efforts, it failed even to understand the problems it faced.â€
The ‘failure’ was deliberate. We never intended to ‘build a nation’ in Iraq.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:13 amSure, when Hayden tells the truth, he’s “too close to the democrats” which is half-true….since the Democrats represent Truth and Honesty now in this country, he may be closer (at least philosophically) to the Democrats rather than to the lying Republicans.
You KNOW this was a huge “hit” to the Rethugs to get it straight from the horse’s mouth that Plame was, indeed, “covert”….which was one of their “talking points” to attempt to trivialize the obvious treasonous actions by members of the Bush administration.
I say….”bring on the truth”….”the truth shall set this country free”…and “the truth will bring the real criminals to justice”…amen!
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:14 amLeaves one to ponder: WHAT WERE THE OTHER 92 PROSECUTORS DOING “FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE” WHICH KEPT THEM IN GOOD STEAD WITH THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION???
We need deep investigations into what ALL of the justices were up to now. One bad apple spoils the bunch! Now we must take a long, hard, thorough look at the bunch left.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:15 am#2 TripMaster Monkey
This administration seems to be very good at nation deconstruction … they are doing an excellent job turning Iraq into a chaotic hellhole and removing in a few years protections in our government developed over generations.
Do they have no shame?
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:17 am#2 Of course, not! It was never part of any thought process of this administration. Since there never was a “plan” whatsoever, I must refer to it simply as a though process. We went in there under bogus pretenses (WMD) which was not the real reason behind it….it was ALWAYS about the oil grab and war profiteering by the Bush Cabal….why worry about the collateral damage of the citizens of Iraq when money is THEIR GOD? Why worry about the 3,200 deaths of our citizens when money is THEIR GOD??? How many died in the WTC? Soon we may be able to add them to the “genocide” of this administration as well.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:18 amAnd, while we’re at it, what’s Pal-Gal Madam Palfrey singing about today? You know: HOOKERGATE?? Besides, we now know that one of the justices was investigating something integral to the Foley scandal regarding a Congressman (Rethug?) who had a “sleepover with two underage boys who were part of the Congressional Page Program”…I suspect Hastert and Boehner “aided and abetted” this one as well. Let’s investigate this fully. Hastert and Boehner’s complicity will come out once this investigation gets into full swing.
Mind boggling, isn’t it? The sheer number of scandals which will be associated with these eight firings alone? Imagine what dirty deeds will be outed when we look into the othr 92???
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:21 amAfter all, the United States is prima facie evidence of how good this administration is at “national destruction”…Everything about our way of life has been contaminated and ruined by them.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:22 amThese conned’self-servatives Bushites sure have a skewed view of morality…
…the guy (Hayden) tells the TRUTH…
…and because that TRUTH is contrary to what they WANT to hear…
…they vilify him…
…now WHO in his/her right mind…
…would want to reconcile or unite with mindless, amoral idiots…
…like conned’self-servative Bushites?
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:25 amWhat is the criminal Bush Regime up to today?
When Bush is gone someday, then the biggest world-wide party in history is going to take place.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:27 amAH-ha! I knew it all along, the CIA is a terrorist front organization and a obvious left-wing, liberal, commie, bracnh of government.
Actually a portion of them most likely are as bad as any terrorist organization, but for bob (look, I’m pretending to be a journalist) novak to say that Hayden held back information from the inquiring minds of the republican party because he’s a partisan democrat is beyond belief.
This leak will sink this ship ….
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:30 ampalettes full of cash, big papa. palettes full of cash….
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:31 amcan MOVEON move this bill on?
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:33 amBob Novak is a traitor… he helped out a covert CIA Agent and he knows that and he’s trying to “act” like “miss good two shoes”. Novak should be tried as a traitor to this nation. He has jeopardized the security of the USA by assisting in the naming of a covert CIA Agent. Off with his head!
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:35 am“Three of the eight federal prosecutors ousted by the Justice Department as poor performers ranked in the top 10 for prosecutions and convictions
I want to see Gonzales become Mexico’s first illegal immigrant, followed by the rest of this corrupt admin. Bushlickers, all of ‘em.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:36 amMay subpoenas unnumbered like grains of dust come suddenly upon the Gopers.
Digital LSD
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:37 amhttp://www.teocawki.blogspot.com/2006/01/grok-box-rocks.html
Plame was covert? According to the Bush administration? Issue the warrants already.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:38 am* a reminder:
write down this number… capitol switchboard… CALL NOW:
8 6 6 . 2 2 0 . 0 0 4 4 … kindly ask for the rep of your choice…
remind them/him/her:
ALL OF THEM UNDER OATH… AND A TRANSCRIPT.
NO EXCEPTIONS. UNDER OATH.
thank you…
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:39 amBob Novak, who looks like a retarded bullfrog, should be ostracized, fined, tried, jailed and then do community service for non-profits or rehabbed vets for the rest of his unatural life.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:39 amHorrors! Stating the fact instead of the party line is not to be tolerated. Someone better give Hayden another copy of the RNC rules and talking points memo.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:39 amveritas sez:
Anyone who possesses a modicum of intellectual honesty and has done even the most cursory amount of research into the strange events surrounding 9/11 already tallies those poor souls in the ‘Chimpy’ column.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:40 amI never doubted Plame was “covert” back when she told Joe Wilson after their 2nd date. The question remains whether any law was broken in 2003.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:41 am“That confirmed Republican suspicions that Hayden is too close to Democrats. … ”
maybe hayden is too close to people who work for the c.i.a. what’s amazing is that the entire justice department’s credibility is in question because the repubs tried to politicize the department, and yet repubs are complaining because the c.i.a. isn’t politicized enough.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:41 amBob Novak reports conservatives are angry at CIA Director Michael Hayden for telling Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) that Valerie Plame was covert. “Waxman’s statement astounded Republicans whose queries about her had been rebuffed by the agency.
“You idiot! You weren’t supposed to tell them the truth! How can we go on saying Plame wasn’t covert when you go and spill the beans?!”
It’s not easy being a lying sack of crap anymore. What with all these honest public officials walking around, shooting their mouths off and all.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:41 amA review 1,400 veterans hospitals has turned up more than 1,000 reports of substandard conditions. In response, VA Sec. Jim Nicholson this week ordered “immediate corrective action†to fix the problems.
First corrective action: Dump Nicholson. Immediately, if not sooner.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:43 amIsn’t it amazing how the Dems are publicly going back on their campaign promise. First they say they are against this war
I hate to admit this : but you are right. The Democrats are nothing but another Wing of the War Party. And I am sad that this great country such crap leadership.
Pelosi = Great Disappointment.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:44 amThe biggest world-wide party in history will be the Live Earth concert hosted by President Al Gore on July 7. Lets hope Bush is gone by then.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:47 amBob Novak reports conservatives are angry at CIA Director Michael Hayden for telling Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) that Valerie Plame was covert. “Waxman’s statement astounded Republicans whose queries about her had been rebuffed by the agency. That confirmed Republican suspicions that Hayden is too close to Democrats. … When Hayden’s role was pointed out to one of the president’s most important aides, there was no response.â€
Republicans want the status of Valerie Plame being at least surrounded by a fog of uncertainty, to distort the reality of the runup to the war. Too bad that they hate so much the truth.
A review 1,400 veterans hospitals has turned up more than 1,000 reports of substandard conditions. In response, VA Sec. Jim Nicholson this week ordered “immediate corrective action†to fix the problems. Bobby Muller of the Veterans for America said, “There is a social contract between a country and those it sends to war, and America’s social contract is broken.â€
Silly me, I was thinking that the NeoCon GOP was all about preemtiveness, and not trailing with patches after the disasters already happened. I must have learned of the (lack of) response to Katrina.
And the “social contract” is between a country and the people living in it, and with its nationality and fighting for it, and the people affected in disasters in its territory. All that people. But many people fails to realize the amplitude of it daily, and simply act like selfish pigs.
“Three of the eight federal prosecutors ousted by the Justice Department as poor performers ranked in the top 10 for prosecutions and convictions by the nation’s 93 U.S. attorneys, an analysis of court records shows.†A fourth prosecutor “ranked among the top third of all U.S. attorneys during four of the past five years.â€
So Bush GOP is against poor performers? That’s rich, coming from the team of a Prez who has the Antimidas Touch, team who has been royally appointed.
“In a stinging, wide-ranging assessment,†Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Stuart Bowen found the U.S. was “unprepared for the extensive nation-building required after it invaded Iraq, and at each juncture where it could have adjusted its efforts, it failed even to understand the problems it faced.â€
I knew this reality five years ago. I’m allowed to earn the bucks Bowen is being payed?
3,000: Number of military sexual assault reports filed in 2006, compared to 2,400 in 2005. “Action was taken against 780 people, from courts-martial and discharges to other administrative remedies.â€
Culture of life: 600 more potential soldiers in the march. No abortion allowed.
“Hurricane Katrina drained nearly 300,000 people from coastal areas between Texas and the Florida Panhandle, according to new government population estimates that tally for the first time the storm’s devastating toll on the Gulf Coast.â€
That means 300,000 people who need help, at least.
“Public housing projects damaged by Hurricane Katrina would not be knocked down until the U.S. government has a plan to replace them under a bill†passed by the House yesterday. It would “also would grant tenants who lived in New Orleans public housing before the storm the right to return to homes and apartments subsidized by the government.â€
That’s great, but the housing must be done ASAP, else you’ll end with a lot of displaced people living in substandard conditions, waiting for a house that, maybe, they’ll never have.
The Pentagon is “quietly seeking congressional approval for significant new military sales to US allies in the Persian Gulf region†to counter Iranian influence. The sale of arms -could “spark concerns that further military buildup in the volatile region would bring Washington closer to a confrontation with Iran.â€
Great, throw more gas to the building in flames. That sounds like a Fahrenheit 411 strategy. In fact, was the strategy in the ’80s, with that pal, Saddam, I don’t remember his last name. Worked so well…
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:48 amI am the first one to say that ChimpCo and his cohorts in crime must be the first to go.
But, as the newly elected Congress with a slim Democratic lead,
PelosiCo. is just as much behind this War Machine as the Bushites.
Who will take the lead — and finally offer this great country leadership to be proud of?
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:49 amchimpeach – isn’t it amazing how the truth always seems to rise to the surface. Wonder how that happens :)
And for our pal Jake – Republics have proven that they are weak on national security. Anytime someone outs a covert CIA Agent, they are jeopardizing national security. During the American revolution, people were hung from trees for jeopardizing the security of the revolutionary army. The Rosenburgs were executed for jeopardizing the security our the USA. All those involved with leaking the identity of Valerie Plame deserve the same punishment for jeopardizing the security of the USA.
The Republic Party – won’t fund the troops and weak on national security.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:50 amJake, did they invite you on their second date? I didn’t think your opinion mattered on things you don’t really know squat about but go ahead and blather. It’s a free country and you have a right to make any half assed ignorant bullshit statement you want.
retarded bullfrog. that’s funny but how can you tell the retarded ones from the smart ones?
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:50 amThe Pentagon is “quietly seeking congressional approval for significant new military sales to US allies in the Persian Gulf region†to counter Iranian influence. The sale of arms -could “spark concerns that further military buildup in the volatile region would bring Washington closer to a confrontation with Iran.â€
Yeah, if there’s one thing they’re short of in the Middle East, it’s weaponry. And, as all good arms dealers know, the best way to bring in repeat customers is to get a good war going.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:50 amBen Dover:
Good thing Gore picked a hot day to have his little concert — people may forget how SNOW we had this winter ; )
Kay:
Maybe Pelosi’s contituents can recall her?
chimpeach:
I never doubted Plame was “covert†back when she told Joe Wilson after their 2nd date. The question remains whether any law was broken in 2003.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:50 amHouse Democratic leaders pressed undecided lawmakers yesterday to support the Iraq war supplemental spending bill,
Is this the one wiht the billions of pork in it?
There’s $25 million for spinach, designed to attract the vote of Sam Farr, a California farm-region liberal.
Other lowlights include $20 million to restore farmland damaged by freezing temperatures
$1.48 billion for livestock farmers.
And don’t forget the $74 million “to ensure proper storage for peanuts,” an urgent national-security need.
And $500 million for “urgent wildland fire suppression
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:52 amBut RR you and the republicans should be happy with that then? Aren’t you? Or are you now against the war because dems are voting to continue funding at the present time?
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:53 amI hate to admit this : but you are right. The Democrats are nothing but another Wing of the War Party. And I am sad that this great country such crap leadership.
Pelosi = Great Disappointment.
Comment by Kay
Anti-war.com calls them the left wing of a bird of prey.
Anyone recall when Pelosi signed on to the resolution praising the boy king for his brilliant and resolute leadership in prosecuting the war? Did I dream that?
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:53 amI found this great letter in the Buzzflash Mailbag. It was sent to Nancy Pelosi:
Dear Madame Speaker,
I am an avid admirer of yours and I’d like to remind you that I actually called you “Madame Speaker†well in advance of your appointment, when we met briefly while you were on a campaign stop in support of the Democratic nominee for 1st district congressperson in NM. Additionally, I would like to unequivocally state that I would be thrilled to see you become President of the United States!
Since you have said that impeachment is “off the table†with regard to President Bush, I believe you won’t find it necessary for me to include any background on myself in seeking this position with you. If the President’s activities in office don’t subject him to even the possibility of his removal, I assume you likely subscribe to his philosophy of loyalty being the true benchmark for judging suitability of current and future staff.
Therefore, I will voluntarily submit to a lie detector test so that you can accurately determine my loyalty, in lieu of curricula vitae, for employment purposes. Thank you for your consideration in advance.
Adoringly, Shelly from New Mexico
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:53 am#26 Kay
I hate to admit this : but you are right. The Democrats are nothing but another Wing of the War Party. And I am sad that this great country such crap leadership.
Pelosi = Great Disappointment.
Yup. It’s the Dems fault for not making the Republicans vote for their bills and make them veto-proof.
I think it’s YOUR fault, Kay, for not electing more Democrats in the last election. How come so many Republicans won? You’re a lousy voter. You should be fired.
It makes about as much sense.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:56 amKay – The Democrats are well aware of the fact that anything passed in the House by the majority is likely to fail in the Senate, thanks to self-serving Joe Lieberman, and even if it passes the Senate, boy Bush promised to veto and there are not enough Senates vote to override a veto. Do the math…
There are so many investigations going on right now (oversight that should have been done by the neglectful Repubics) that the news media can’t keep up with them. Keep moving forward, Nancy… you are doing a great job. Good strategic thinking for the 2008 elections. Nancy, keep setting up the Republics with their “not funding the troops” votes. Can’t wait until Rep Gerlach faces an Iraq veteran in 2008. He will have a difficult time explaining why he didn’t vote to fund body armor for the troops.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:57 am“But, as the newly elected Congress with a slim Democratic lead,
PelosiCo. is just as much behind this War Machine as the Bushites.”
as much as the trolls want to give ownership of the war to the dems, history will always look at the war in iraq as bush’s disastrous war.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:57 amIn fact, I am disgusted by both parties.
More so with BushCo. for all the -utter- Evil he has spewed.
But the DemiClones are right behind.
Who will take the lead and FINALLY offer leadership to be proud of.
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:57 am“The question remains whether any law was broken in 2003.”
was that the year libby lied to a grand jury?
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:58 am*Sheesh* Frankly, I *hate* the TP filter.
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:00 amhacker bob – you forgot to include the millions of dollars designated for the veterans administration, you know, the veterans that boy Bush keeps cutting funding for… although boy Bush does say he supports the veterans. He only supports coffins draped with flags that return from his illegal war for oil. The Republics DO NOT want to fund our troops nor do they want to fund the veteran’s administration that takes care of our returning troops… Walter Reed Hospital quickly comes to mind.
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:02 amHey Kay – I nominate you to go forward and take some leadership. If you can’t see the Democrats strategy, then go do something. Or maybe you would like to vote for the Republics in 2008. That should fix things.
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:07 amComment by CoffinsDrapedWithFlags — March 22, 2007 @ 10:02 am
Gee, I can see how money for the VA (you know, Veterans Administration, that “helps” troops) could be tied to a war supplement. How does spinach farming help the troops? Or peanut storage in Georgia?
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:09 amWhat is the Democrats strategy?
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:10 amBelieve me, I hate Bush and all the effin’ evil he has spewed.
Pelosi has joined the Israeli lobby in this country. The Dems have no balls and they crapped out.
Kay,
What would happen to a bill that would pull all the troops out tommorrow? It wouldn’t make it past the Senate. Probably not even past the House since the Bluedogs wouldn’t vote for something like that. The people voted these representatives into office. To say that the Dems are to blame for not stopping the war is shortsighted in its logic. With a 50-50 split in the Senate no bill will make it past. I wish it could happen but when looked at honestly, anyone can see that it wouldn’t happen. And with a veto likely fromthe Prez the odds are insurmountable. So what do the Dems do? They try to pass legislation that is veto proof and slowly chip away at it. It’s not instant satisfaction but reasonable in its method. Blame those that vote for the idiots that won’t vote for an instant recall. The Dems are working with what the voters gave them.
Again I wish they could be recalled instantly from Iraq also and I do have some issues with how many Dems vote but that doesn’t excuse the Repugs and the Prez who will vote such a bill down or the voters. The Repugs are not as powerless as it is portrayed.
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:10 amwell… just got a call… have to be away most of today…
just want to put this idea out there…
please find a way to refute and discharge all of the false claims by the resident “troll” r2/jake/pat/michael/kay without actually engaging them in the “conversation”…
your answers can educate those who appreciate it while neutering such troll talking points without totally subverting the thread…
and call you congress people… UNDER OATH, WITH TRANSCRIPTS.
have at it… good day…
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:11 am#32 Jake
The question remains whether any law was broken in 2003.
Only for you, Jake, because you’re such a slow learner.
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:12 amThe question remains whether any law was broken in 2003. Comment by Jake — March 22, 2007 @ 9:41 am
Yes. Treason was committed by the Bush White House.
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:14 amAn organized campaign to marginalize anti-war Democrats in Congress and force through the $124 billion wartime spending bill was employed not by Republican Neo-Cons, but by Nancy Pelosi and the so-called anti-war “progressive” MoveOn.org foundation!
Congress will vote on the bill this Thursday but Democrats who want to see troops withdrawn from the Iraq quagmire have been completely abandoned by the leadership of their own “opposition” party, with Pelosi determined to introduce an almost identical war chest bill in the unlikely event of the original draft failing to pass.
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:15 ampalettes full of cash, big papa. palettes full of cash….
Comment by alp3 #12
…alp3…
…you CERTAINLY can’t convince the Bushite faithful…
…of that fact…
…they are THE most COMPLIANT TRICKS…
…in the history of mankind…
…but WE thinking people…
…cannot allow Bushiva and L’il Dick et al…
…to ride off into the sunset…
…no matter what…
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:16 amchimpeach,
You’ve gotta make allowances, he’s really really old.
I’m guessing the car keys are routinely hidden from him because trips to the grocery store often result in driving to other states and news alerts with family pleading “please if you see grandpa take his keys away and call us.: Doggone dementia!
DONT FEED THE TROLLS!
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:22 am#53 Rocks911
You’ve gotta make allowances, he’s really really old.
I know Alzheimers is nothing to kid around about, but I have to wonder about ol’ Jake. He posts the same arguments over and over as if they’re fresh, and people keep shooting them down from all angles. I don’t know whether to be annoyed or feel sorry for him.
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:26 amIs there not one decent, honest man or woman in either the House of Representatives or the Senate, in either party’s leadership, who possesses the courage and the honesty to say, “Enough. The people who elected us deserve better”? So far the answer is no. Is there really any wonder that public opinion polls demonstrate that the president and this Congress share equally low approval ratings in poll after poll?
-Lou Dobbs (3/22/07)
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:27 amI hear that big papa. Nothin’ like the darkness of dusk to conceal the deeds of the bushite faithful…
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:28 am#51 -Kay
Well said. What the highly-praised MoveOn neglected to tell its members was the plan put forth by the Congressional Progressive Caucus which calls for the “fully funded, and systematic, withdrawal of U.S. soldiers and military contractors from Iraq” by the end of 2007 while urging its members to support Pelosi’s plan, which recommends that U.S. troops being to leave Iraq not until MARCH of 2008, by which time a thousand more Americans could wind up very dead and thousands more grievously wounded and maimed and crippled veterans populating the hospitals at Walter Reed and the VA system throughout this country. This is the big plan that MoveOn is so enthusiastic about? With friends like these pusillanimous Democrats, the citizens of this country, and especially the troops in Iraq, would be hard pressed to distinguish these Pelosi-led Democrats from the Republicans.
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:30 amWho will take the lead and FINALLY offer leadership to be proud of.
Comment by Kay — March 22, 2007 @ 9:57 am
Your posts aren’t going to morph into a “Ron Paul for President” theme, are they Kay?
I don’t know where Kay is coming from and I can appreciate her frustration with the Democrats, but I am usually suspicious of people who try to equate Democrats with Republicans. It is a sort of “move along, nothing to see here” tactic often employed by Republicans to distract people from the fact that they are indeed far worse than the Democrats. Even though the true underlying values of the Republican Party are an anathema to American values, they have accomplished minority rule by breeding cynicism and creating despair that dissuades many from bothering to vote. It is part of a divide-and-conquer strategy that enables them to win elections with their voting block of 30 percenters.
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:30 amBob those are things put in there to entice republicans to vote. You see apparently during their last term they only voted for bills chock full of wasteful spending. They seem to recoil in horror when the bills are actually for what they say they are intended for.
By the way, the republican crime syndicate will do what they can to sow discord in the ranks of the democrats. They will keep their solid 30% and try to chip away at the 70% who oppose them. What we see here in this thread is simply one tack they will be sticking to. They will paint the dems once again as people who say one thing and do another. Never mind that republicans are at their very best 10 times worse than the dems in this manner. They speak with one voice and one point of view regardless of their personal convictions they will adhere to the party line. Remember back in the 1930’s Hitler was able to attain and hold power with roughly 30% of the people solidly behind him. Not to say the republicans use Nazi methods, nope none of them ever studied Goebbels propaganda methods. I would never imply that. Any how it is what the thugs do; they stay solid and chip away at their opponents. It is why they will not testify under oath and is why they are mad at Hayden, because he spoke against the conventional party line and for the others to speak under oath they might say something verifiably at odds with known reality (which is usually not in line with republican ideals)
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:30 amOPEN LETTER TO KEITH OLBERMANN:
Dear Keith,
To paraphrase a line by Denzel Washington in the movie Philadelphia, explain “Executive Privilege†to me like I’m stupid.
Yesterday you said that John W. Dean would be a guest on tonight’s show. It is from his great book “Conservatives Without Conscience†that I read (something like) “If anyone wants their advice to the president kept secret, you can bet that advice is not in the public interest.†I honestly cannot think of a counterexample to save my life. Please, however stupid I may look for having you do it, please provide examples where perfectly innocent, perfectly legal, totally moral advice given to the president on matters of public policy should be kept secret from the public he is meant to serve.
President Lincoln said that ours was a government of the people, by the people, for the people. It is NOT a government of the president, by the president, for the president, no matter what this president thinks. It is NOT a government of the president’s friends, by the president’s friends, for the president’s friends, no matter what this president’s friends think. It is NOT a government of one political party, by one political party, for one political party, no matter what this president’s political party thinks. Every single person working in the federal government is supposed to be working on behalf of the public. Not themselves. Not the president. And not their political party.
We have been hearing ad nauseum the phrase “serves at the pleasure of the president.†What we have NOT been hearing is this: Serves who? Should the answer to that question be “The people†and not “The president� Doesn’t the president serve the people of this country first?
The idea that the advice the president gets on matters of public policy should be kept secret is, in my opinion, wholly without logical foundation, IF you want to maintain the idea that our government is there to serve the people. I also cannot for the life of me find anything in the constitution that supports this concept. Article II does say that the president can demand the written opinion of anyone who works for him, but I interpret the fact that it be in writing as not for the sake of secrecy, but for the sake of accountability! So where in the constitution does it say that the president of the United States can conduct the public’s business in secret? Quote me Article and Section, please.
Think of it this way: Exactly WHY does the vice president not want the advice he was given by his Energy Task Force made public? Is it because it might tend to make him look bad by showing that his public comments don’t coincide with his private discussions? TOO BAD! They say that if the president’s advice is made public, then people wouldn’t want to give the president advice. So? What’s the problem with that? What kind of people are we talking about when we use that lame excuse? Might they be people who don’t want to act in the public’s interests? Name someone who wouldn’t want their advice to the president made public, and I’ll give you someone who has a hidden agenda that is not in the public’s interest. If Mother Teresa were alive today and advising the president, do you think that she would want her advice kept secret? What about “Dr.†James Dobson?
I appreciate you taking the time to explain this important concept to your loyal viewers. And if I’ve made you mad enough to want to give another Special Comment on the subject, you have my complete permission to use any phrasing I’ve used here (if you like).
Sincerely,
Wayne A. Schneider
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:30 amPawling, NY
chimpeach,
To be sure I feel sorry for him. That old and nothing better to do, it’s so sad.
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:31 amAre the republicans in this thread suddenly aginst the war? How very odd.
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:31 amInteresting. On the one hand complaining that MoveOn.org isn’t “progressive” enough and then on the other quoting from Lou Dobbs?
Lou Dobbs is a right-wing idiot. Whenever he’s confronted with a case of absolute malice or corruption or incompetence by a Republican, he makes a statement about both parties being bad. He’s the one who spent over a week hyping the phoney story about Pelosi and the plane, long after his entire rant had been completely debunked.
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:35 amDemiclones, rethugs, pelosico – you guys have great nicknames! All I see is two parties doing wrong by the American people. When will we have the opportunity for real change, feel hopeful for all that has been done and not because someone claims to represent it. I sometimes wonder if a citizen senate and house chosen in a similiar fashion to jury selection may not work better to promote the countries best interest. When can MOVEON represent something other than Democrat party adulation and Republican bashing.
- ?
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:35 amHas any Dem (or anyone of you, for that matter) expressed his views against this war in terms of, not just americans being killed, nor the money spent, nor the goals missed, but in terms of destroying a ruined nation, directly and indirectly producing the deaths of more than a 500,000 civilians, meddling (as always) in foreign affairs, and ripping another country´s resources?
What if no american soldier had been killed so far? Would the occupation be any less morally wrong?
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:35 amI am beyond Party Label.
I am an Independent after being a registered Democrat for 27 years.
I am just frustrated that Pelosi is extending this war, that’s all.
Why do people around here treat being a Democrat, like being in a cult
The Iraq Debacle will always be George W. Bush’s War. And maybe I need to understand the “math” better in terms of getting things passed in Congress.
Why did Pelosi pass this $124B bill to extend the War?
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:36 amThat’s all I am asking.
#66 Don’t let the potential for perfection diminish your ability to appreciate improvement.
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:41 amBob those are things put in there to entice republicans to vote.
Comment by Mark — March 22, 2007 @ 10:30 am
Vote buying and political bargining would have been a good enough answer, but thanks for your input.
So much for the “No Pork” Congress.
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:44 amI know Alzheimers is nothing to kid around about, but I have to wonder about ol’ Jake. He posts the same arguments over and over as if they’re fresh, and people keep shooting them down from all angles.
Comment by chimpeach — March 22, 2007 @ 10:26 am
I am skeptical. There is a certain discipline to what Jake is doing that suggests he is working for someone. He spends 12 hours a day here pushing the same one or two talking points. The talking points undergo a slight but distinctive shift every 24-48 hours to accommodate unfolding events. In between these shifts, Jake will push his talking points with a
dogged determination and remarkable consistency, despite having his Rovian lies blasted into smithereens by all comers. Note, for example, his pathological resistance to understanding the difference between Clinton’s clean sweep firings and Bush’s political purge. I wrote this about Jake late last night:
“I don’t picture Jake as some 75 year old coot sending it in from the heartland. When I read Jake’s swill, I see Washington spin and I smell Washington values. I picture a 25 year old GOP activist working out of RNC headquarters. You weren’t home schooled, were you Jake?”
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:46 amIs the Democrat support for this $124B bill given so they won’t look weak on defence?
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:47 amretarded bullfrog. that’s funny but how can you tell the retarded ones from the smart ones?
Only after they croak.
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:48 amLet’s hope Novak has his moment soon.
#58 VerbalKint
Any time that the Democrats, or a Democrat, back away from a fight against the Republicans that they could win and should win, I’ll be the first to jump in and call them on it. There are still plenty of spineless and clueless Dems in Congress. But, I’m not going to jump on Pelosi’s case when she’s doing an outstanding job of herding cats. On top of that, she’s been more supportive of anti-war Dems than I would have expected the Speaker to be. Remember her backing Murtha for Majority Leader?
I’m just a little tired of people who demand their instant gratification and anyone who doesn’t deliver it instantly “has no balls”. I don’t know if it’s a generational thing or if some people are just not aware of what’s involved in running the Congress and don’t care to find out. The Dems have many years of Republican abuse and neglect to undo and we’re only two months into their rule over the Congress.
Again, when I see acts of cowardice, I’ll be the first to point them out. But, indicting the entire Democratic Party because they can’t push through everything they want, due to those stupid rules they have to follow, is just nonsense.
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:48 am#67 DM
Don’t let the potential for perfection diminish your ability to appreciate improvement.
I’m going to frame that and hang it over my desk. Well said.
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:51 amComment by Juan C — March 22, 2007 @ 10:35 am
You’re spot on, Juan. Most of the people of the USA can’t think out of the box that has been served to them by their media for decades now. And the ones thinking outside the box, must be extremely careful to not offend the ones that are in the Matrix yet, and be called lefties (the horror!) or worse. Sad.
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:52 amJuan C: it would be every bit as morally wrong.
Kay: your cynical they-are-all-equally-bad view is destructive, whether you intend it that way or not. Read Mark’s comment #60. I am not entirely happy with the Democrats’ timid behavior, but I also recognize that their legislative power is still very limited, and I also recognize that the Bush regime is vastly worse than anything the Democrats would ever put into power.
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:54 amJane – nice letter by Wayne. I like the emphasis that is placed on withholding from the public, advice given to the president being suspicious of not in the public interest. Yeah, if the vp and boy Bush advisors have nothing to hide, then they would feel very comfortable speaking under oath and having transcripts made of their testimony.
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:56 amWith a show of hands, how many people want me to leave?
(I just cannot commit to extreme adulation of Democrats just becsue they are Democrats. Just to let you know, I really, for the most part, despise everything Republicans stand for)
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:56 amMark – you know how it is with the Republic Party… always flip floppin’ on issues.
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:56 am#69 VerbalKint
Somebody mentioned it yesterday that there was a sync between one of Jake’s talking points and one that Snow brought up shortly afterward. I didn’t get to hear Snow say it until later and I suspect the same thing now.
Jake does seem to have that repetitious, stay-on-point style. Either that or he’s extremely dense. Either way, I don’t see it working for him.
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:57 amThink Democrats are the bomb!!! I have never voted Republican and they seem to be getting their due lately but I may never understand Democrat loyalty. We may not be realistic to expect perfection but a lot lies inbetween perfection and improvement.
And then there is Congress being flushed down the toilet. Makes me think twice on cutting CO2 emissions.
March 22nd, 2007 at 11:00 am#72 Chimpeach, I couldn’t agree with you more. To answer Kay’s latest question, I think that the Democrats have to maneuver carefully around issues of supporting the troops and being strong on defense. They can’t just legislate willy-nilly, both because Bush holds the veto and Lieberman can sink them in the Senate. I think it was probably for the best that Pelosi said impeachment is off the table. The Democrats need to hold targeted hearings in areas where the Republicans are most vulnerable, such as war profiteering, contract fraud, and now attorney-gate. As the truth unfolds, impeachment will reenter the picture by popular demand.
March 22nd, 2007 at 11:01 am“When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.†-Thomas Jefferson
Again, our Forefathers show us that nothing is really ever new; just recycled.
Take his words to heart. Think about our Justice Dept. today. Would our true Patriots have stood for this? I think not.
March 22nd, 2007 at 11:04 amWith a show of hands, how many people want me to leave?
(I just cannot commit to extreme adulation of Democrats just becsue they are Democrats. Just to let you know, I really, for the most part, despise everything Republicans stand for)
Comment by Kay — March 22, 2007 @ 10:56 am
Kay, please stay.
I don’t see “extreme adulation of Democrats” at this site. Where are you seeing it? Are there particular people here you can name that fit this description, or perhaps cite some specific comments that show this?
March 22nd, 2007 at 11:06 amKay,
March 22nd, 2007 at 11:07 amIf you want to read on the difficulties Pelosi and others have had just getting this bill to be voted on read this article. It does a pretty good job on explaining what each side has been doing and the tightrope the Dem leadership has had to walk. It also explains the bill pretty well.
#82
Hooray for the Republicans and Democrats at each others throats. It means they will have less time to concentrate of doing something for the people — which at best may be a neutral thing. Billions wasted on Iraq, millions wasted supporting the UN, and more to be spent trying to replace the current chump in chief.
Divest in Congress, let us finally end the income tax.
March 22nd, 2007 at 11:08 am#74 Evil Spaniard
You’re spot on, Juan. Most of the people of the USA can’t think out of the box that has been served to them by their media for decades now.
It’s a form of ethnocentricity. Most people in the world view everything through the filter of their own experiences, but Americans seem to be the worst at it by far. They’ve been allowed the luxury of ignoring what people in other parts of the world are experiencing. One of the unexpected outcomes of having been in the military for me was getting to spend some time in a third world country and ever since I’ve been keenly aware of what the U.S. has been doing to them.
I always think in terms of ALL of the casualties, not just the Americans. If there were a Hell, I’m certain that Bush would be destined for it and I would hope that it would allow him to experience every minute of pain of every single life that he’s trampled on. I want him to feel the torture, the hunger, the grieving for a loved one who was blown to bits in front of his eyes, the rape, the disgrace. But, whatever mechanism or brain malfunction there is that keeps him from caring about anyone else in the world would have to be removed. He needs to experience the whole thing just like real people do.
March 22nd, 2007 at 11:09 amAnd the ones thinking outside the box, must be extremely careful to not offend the ones that are in the Matrix yet, and be called lefties (the horror!) or worse. Sad.
Comment by Evil Spaniard
Along with the German population, I think US has the greatest level of indoctrination in modern history. Por cierto, escuché Mamá Ladilla. Je je. Muy buenos.
March 22nd, 2007 at 11:11 amI must go for now. I am off to my Kermit the Frog for President campaign meeting.
And that’s no croak!
March 22nd, 2007 at 11:13 am#77 Kay
With a show of hands, how many people want me to leave?
I certainly don’t want you to leave. I may be rather abrupt at times, but I don’t have a problem with you expressing your opinions here. I tried to explain it earlier. I don’t worship the Democrats, but the ones that are working for us need our support. If the Dems in Congress were somehow able to stop the war and pull all of the troops out right now, there are too many so-called progressives who would still bitch because it was done today and not yesterday or three years ago. And then they’d be on to the next “I hate Dems” rant. If you see cowardice, go ahead and call the guilty individual on it. But, painting the whole party with a broad brush is not going to make anything work any more to your liking.
Face it. Right now, for all intents and purposes, there are two parties and one of them will only bring more war. The only hope you have in the near term is with the other one.
March 22nd, 2007 at 11:20 amKermit the Frog announced on the “Tonight Show” with Jay Leno that he is running for president on the Green Party ticket. He knows that winning the presidency will be hard since he is running a Green Party candidate and although the green party is not one of the major political parties, he feels that they cares the most about frogs.
Kermit stated: “It’s not easy being green. I hope that by running with the Green Party I can stand up for the rights of frogs everywhere.”
He talked about many of the policies that he wants to implement as president including spending 3 billion dollars in funding for finding a cure for frog cancer, promoting education regarding the history of frogs in America in schools, and giving government grants to artists who are skilled at painting pictures of frogs.
When asked by Leno if he though it would be hard for him to win the presidency because he was a frog, Kermit replied, “No people no more about me than any of the other candidates, and frankly I think they like me more!”
Could a frog win the presidency? Kermit is confident he can. With a simple, down to earth demeanour and a passion for frogs and swamp life, Kermit is confident the American love him and will want him as president.
March 22nd, 2007 at 11:23 amchimpeach,
I totally agree. The US should stop negativelly affecting the world. We should focus on domestic strengthening.
– Expell the UN and build eco – friendly, affordable housing in its place and commit to promoting the same from coast to coast.
- Repeal the income tax and work on installing and promoting cost prohibitive item specific tax and fees.
- Creating an economy for the future that isn’t based on consumption.
and much more. However, it is hard to do with our bickering, buearocratic dinosaurs and those that serve as real obstacles to progress.
March 22nd, 2007 at 11:24 amlet us finally end the income tax.
Comment by Free America from the parties — March 22, 2007 @ 11:08 am
Constitution Party member, huh? You wouldn’t happen to be backing Ron Paul for president, would you?
I’m growing suspicious of the Ron Paul movement at this site. Somebody or somebodies is pushing Ron Paul here as a “progressive” alternative. The basis for this claim is that Ron Paul often votes against his party, the Republicans. But Ron Paul is not a progressive. He is what many progressives would regard as an ultra-right winger.
Wouldn’t it be clever for right wingers to push Ron Paul here and fool some people into voting for him instead of a Democrat? That wouldn’t be what they call a divide-and-conquer strategy, would it?
March 22nd, 2007 at 11:27 amHe needs to experience the whole thing just like real people do.
Comment by chimpeach
Great post.
Bush is indoctrinated, just as Stalin, Pinochet and Hitler. He thinks he is doing good things, they dont doubt at these kind of things. I remember stories that my mom told me about torturers back in Chile. They were nice guys living across the street, they spent time with their children and go to work everyday. They were taught that communists were a real threat for them, so they made a good thing by torturing them. Thats how their minds work. It is really unnecesary for the military/war corporate system a soldier that can actually think. It is better a soldier that can hate. He wont ask and he will feel he is doing a great contribution to his country by killing enemies, even if those enemies are unarmed or are women and children. The same goes for terrorists. They think they are doing a good deed by blowing themselves in front of women and children. Its all indoctrination.
US political elite actually think Iraqis are too dumb, too poor and too unadvanced to think by themselves when they should organize to overthrow Saddam. And the sheeple follows this humanitarian argument. (Roger Roger and Exley, for example) Thats why, we, the humanitarian white people must kill 600,000 of them. Its all for their own good. And there are hundreds of examples, not just with US, but with UK in New Zeland and Australia, they practically wiped the natives out, for their own good, of course, becuz those natives were so undavanced. The same thing with the Spanish that killed a hundred million people in just a century and half after the “discovery” of America.
The US is spreading democracy, just like Hitler was spreading Christian values and German progress to the Varsovian Ghettos. It is the same argument.
March 22nd, 2007 at 11:32 amIsn’t it amazing that Roger has the big brass ones to carp on what any Democrat has or has not done in light of the massive litany of failure, neglect, waste, and deceit cataloged in this one post??????????????
March 22nd, 2007 at 11:35 amVerbalKint,
Divide and conquer is the strategy alright, however it is not one I would promote in the service for any of the current candidates.
I would rather unite the silent majority who feels neither a democrat or republican is worthy to represent this nation. One example, most all of us have to deal with housing but how often do either party really talk about real solutions. Well why would they since a real estate organization is the highest bribing group in Congress. Does thirty-year + morgages at 5 % + interest constitue progress? Anyone…
March 22nd, 2007 at 11:41 amIf anyone is not part of the solution, then they are part of the problem. Slave (to the party) and sheep (blind faith) mentality is really passe.
March 22nd, 2007 at 11:43 amI think it’s the smart thing to remain focused and not get into a lot of bullshit semantics. Most of us know what has happened and how we got here, what needs to be done and accomplished to undo the damage and what is the right thing to do and say to get to a better place. So, why all the blah, blah, blah, vascilation and discord? If anyone has a better plan, why haven’t you already put it into motion?
Cutting funding is the Republicant’s method of raising taxes. Enjoy your commutes!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17736750/
March 22nd, 2007 at 11:51 am#95 Let me tell you something: very few Americans are going to unite behind a message of ending the income tax. It would destroy the middle classes. This is right wing fringe nutcase stuff. It is anarcho-capitalism.
March 22nd, 2007 at 11:52 amComment by VerbalKint #92
VerbalKint,
…not to worry…
…Ron Paul is a Bushite al Crackkker from Texas…
…in the Repulsivescum Party of conned’self-servative TRAITORS…
…nuff said!
March 22nd, 2007 at 12:11 pmComment by Not Canadian
The well is running dry and finally people will start to have to feel the sacrifice this chosen war. Americans can put up with thousands of dead but a bumpy road on the way to work….STOP THE WAR. Unfortunately for the rest of the world this is the mentality of many here. Any war that is started should immediately be taxed and the generation that chooses to go to war should pay for it.
March 22nd, 2007 at 12:14 pmOkay, here you go.
Even if it had enough votes to pass both the house and senate, do you think it would survive a veto with a 2/3 overturn majority if we had a bill that immediately flew every troop home tomorrow? No. Too many repubs in the Senate. Too many moderate Dems in the Senate (their contituents will need to remove THEM when their 6 years are up).
We start here, then try more strict bills. This is NOT the end. It better not be. I would rather have SOMETHING on the books than nothing!
March 22nd, 2007 at 12:18 pm“Waxman’s statement astounded Republicans whose queries about her had been rebuffed by the agency. That confirmed Republican suspicions that Hayden is too close to Democrats.”
Reality has a liberal bias.
March 22nd, 2007 at 12:37 pmBy the way Bob, I am absolutely against this sort of thing. I think a bill should be for what it is for nothing else. I fully understand why they put poison pills in bill to kill them and for political fuel. For instance inserting a provision that all kittens must be kicked twice daily into a healthcare bill is to get people to not vote for the bill, or to use as political fodder latter…my esteemed opponent wants voted to have kittens kicked… and to sometimes hide things that might not get passed otherwise. But I still find it wrong regardless oaf what party does the inserting. Other times it might be the only way to get people to vote for a particular bill. Either way it sucks. By the way, were you outraged for the past 6 years when stuff like this happened on nearly every bill passed? Or ibis this simply a republican target of opportunity?
This sort of thing is exactly why I might not vote for a person. But of course I have seen what the republican party has in store for America and will have to accept what is happening today over what they have offered over the past few year.
March 22nd, 2007 at 12:54 pm#97 Not Canadian
Cutting funding is the Republicant’s method of raising taxes. Enjoy your commutes!
The federal government is asking every state to return federal transportation dollars. The reason is to pay for the war in Iraq and Hurricane Katrina.
Here’s a better idea. Roll back the tax cuts on the top 1%.
March 22nd, 2007 at 12:57 pmJake, did they invite you on their second date?
Comment by hellinabucket — March 22, 2007 @ 9:50 am
Hey – Jake just KNOWS things. He has people, sources, top secret, hush-hush, don’t ask!
March 22nd, 2007 at 1:16 pmHe’d tell you how he knows, but then he’d
HAVE TO SHRED YOU!
Now Hayden is a liberal…..hahahahahaha!
Is there nothing these grown children will take some personal responsibility for? Everything is Clintons/Democrats/YOUR fault…..
Seriously, what babies….it’s sickening.
March 22nd, 2007 at 1:21 pmThe Republics DO NOT want to fund our troops nor do they want to fund the veteran’s administration that takes care of our returning troops… Walter Reed Hospital quickly comes to mind.
Comment by CoffinsDrapedWithFlags — March 22, 2007 @ 10:02 am
Fund troops – Republicans?
Hey they let them die over there so they don’t have to let them die here.
Its more FISCALLY PRUDENT to make their stay in Iraq more dangerous. You know injuries and PTSD are way too pricey for Repukes to pay for. Plus you can’t get kick backs or stock options from soldiers.
March 22nd, 2007 at 1:24 pmNow Halliburton, that’s a good gravy train.
But the DemiClones are right behind.
Who will take the lead and FINALLY offer leadership to be proud of.
Comment by Kay — March 22, 2007 @ 9:57 am
Gee Kay you sound kind of trollish. Or do you not understand the slim majority Democrats have?
March 22nd, 2007 at 1:26 pmI just watched the John Bolton/John Stewart exchange on Crook & Liars. It seems to me that Bolton says in a round about way that everyone in the government should be echoing the presidents views or they should be gone. That would pretty much mean that every decision is political in nature. Bolton said that the president should not surround himself with people who hold diverse viewpoints because the president should run the country to satisfy those who voted for him. In other words partisanship is a goal because those who did not vote for the president don’t deserve a say. If Bolton/Bush mindsets are similar their way of thinking is a grave danger to our country.
March 22nd, 2007 at 1:31 pmI don’t picture Jake as some 75 year old coot sending it in from the heartland. When I read Jake’s swill, I see Washington spin and I smell Washington values. I picture a 25 year old GOP activist working out of RNC headquarters. You weren’t home schooled, were you Jake?â€
Comment by VerbalKint — March 22, 2007 @ 10:46 am
Absolutely – often times it appears that his approach is choreographed to go around in a big circle that can never lead anywhere. Like a dog chasing his tale. I suspect he’s an intern cutting his chops at Karl’s feet.
March 22nd, 2007 at 1:36 pmRe: conservatives are angry at CIA Director Michael Hayden for telling Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) that Valerie Plame was covert.
Conservatives don’t seem to be too comfortable with the truth these days.
Re: The federal government is asking every state to return federal transportation dollars.
While it’s always seemed like Bush was hostile to the poor and middle -class, this is mind boggling on a few levels. Cutting back on transportation discourages people from using mass transit, due to longer wait times, more breakdowns, etc. And asking those who aren’t wealthy to pay for the war, while giving the wealthy a pass is so Adolf Hitler.
BTW, where I can I find the original article?
March 22nd, 2007 at 1:37 pm92. Comment by VerbalKint — March 22, 2007 @ 11:27 am
Thanks VK – I had the feeling this guy was speaking trollese. Between he and Kay it seems like there might be a new approach – like they think we’re so stupid we won’t be able to see the subtle changes. Insulting.
March 22nd, 2007 at 1:44 pm#109 MARK: I just watched the John Bolton/John Stewart exchange on Crook & Liars. It seems to me that Bolton says in a round about way that everyone in the government should be echoing the presidents views or they should be gone.
I watched that one yesterday too. At least Bolton was honest. The neo-cons govern only for, and in the interest of, neocons. Their allegience is to neo-con ideals and beliefs. Not the constitution. That’s why they have no desire to hear other points of view. I hope everyone who watched that interview understood the import of what Bolton said. It was frightening.
March 22nd, 2007 at 1:48 pm#113 and he said it with a smile.
March 22nd, 2007 at 1:56 pmJuan C,
Me alegro de que te gustase Mamá Ladilla, son estupendos para echarse unas risas sin preocuparse demasiado por la calidad musical :D
Escucha también Azucarillo Kings, o Mojinos EscozÃos, también te reirás.
Por cierto, ¿tienes usuario en Facebook? Yo sÃ, si quieres búscame.
Well, back to English. We were chatting about Spanish punk & rock bands :)
March 22nd, 2007 at 2:09 pmEvil Spaniard sez:
I just had to share this with you: the English translation of post #115, courtesy of BabelFish:
I laughed myself silly when I saw this. Is this really the best we can do in the area of computer-aided language translation?
March 22nd, 2007 at 2:16 pm#116 Well, the translation isn’t very good, but I must say that I wasn’t speaking perfect Spanish, but a colloquial one mixed with some slang. And yes, there exists a band, whose translated name is exactly “Mommy Crab”. And yes, it’s Crab, from the Crab Lice type, it’s a band of irreverent punk, but funny lyrics :D
But some other words are perfectly translatable, such as Azucarillo (sugar block) or búscame (search for me), something that says a lot of the quality of BabelFish.
The “also you will ***reflx mng yourself” phrase really puzzles me. It’s not so hard. “Te reirás” is easily translatable to “you’ll laugh”.
And best not to talk about verb translation.
Well, it’s not the perfect tool for linguists :D
And, if you want to do a funny experiment, try to use the some successive translations, and back to English. The resulting gibberish can be mind blogging :D
March 22nd, 2007 at 2:48 pmAnd TripMaster, I have some linguist friends. Professionally, they use other programs, that can be “trained” also, to translate long writings in a more accurate way :)
Oh, and change “mind blogging” with “mind blowing”. Not BabelFish fault, EvilSpaniardFish fault :D
March 22nd, 2007 at 2:57 pmEvilSpaniard:
Thank you. I will. Ive seen you on Zoo´s friends.
March 22nd, 2007 at 3:40 pmThis is great, from Liberal Larry:
“Obey Me, or Die” Gore Warns Congress
By Liberal Larry
Environmental Prophet Al Gore warned a stunned Congress today of the dire consequences should we puny humans refuse to obey him. Hurricanes. Tornadoes. Earthquakes. Plagues of locusts. Disoriented manatees. Cats and dogs living together. The deliberate and systematic destruction of all life on Arrakis. Terrifying, indeed – but just a taste of what’s in store for us all should we continue to blatantly defy Gore.
The time has come to cleanse ourselves of our capitalistic sins and save the earth from total obliteration, – but it won’t be easy, Gore assures us. Preserving the future for our children will involve tough choices and personal sacrifice. Most importantly it will require tax increases, wealth restribution, government control of production, and the abandonment of the free market system – by sheer coincidence, the exact same things liberal democrats have been calling for since before global warming was ever an issue. It would be sheer madness, then, for Repugs to continue to stand against such bold initiatives now that the scientific consensus is that we’re all going to die unless we do exactly as Al Gore says.
So there’s really no point in debating it any further.
March 22nd, 2007 at 4:04 pm120- What High School does Liberal Larry go to? Or, is he homeschooled? In any event, that’s a solid freshman effort at parody, and I’m sure his English teacher rewarded him appropriately.
March 22nd, 2007 at 4:46 pmWow. Great comments everyone — except muckdog, of course.
:-)
March 22nd, 2007 at 5:05 pmFrankly, I think the Dems have done quite a bit since they took over the House — their hands are tied in many instances because the Repugs have such a large representation in the Senate — what more would you have the Dems do? They are trying to corral their own party into a cohesive unit, but just as is displayed here, there are varying positions on the same issue (i.e. the war mainly). I don’t like Dems who are so quickly willing to put the Dems in the same class as the Repugs — there is a helluvalong way down to meet that level — and just because things aren’t happening overnight, don’t be so quick to disparage them.
March 22nd, 2007 at 5:47 pmWait until they are in office and in power for a year or two, then I will join you in justified criticism of them when it is called for. For now, don’t give the Repugs ammunition by being too hard on the Dems – we ARE making progress. You can’t deny that.
Coffinsdrapedwithflags, I’ll let Wayne know that you liked his letter to Keith. We’re looking forward to what John Dean has to say on Countdown tonight.
March 22nd, 2007 at 6:40 pmJane,
Sorry, I missed that letter the first run through! That’s a great letter.
March 22nd, 2007 at 8:07 pmmuckdog sez:
Glad to hear it. We were all getting pretty tired of your idiotic screeds anyway.
March 22nd, 2007 at 8:08 pmGET ANGRY, CON-servatives! YA CREEPS DON’T SCARE ANYBODY—-Hayden IS NOT CLOSE TO DEMOCRATS, HE’S JUST DOING HIS JOB—-OH YES, “DOING YOUR JOB THE WAY YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO” IS A BIG NO-NO FOR MEMBERS OF Bushland Uber Allies AND THEIR ASS-LICKING MONGRELS LIKE Bob Novak!!!!!
March 22nd, 2007 at 8:39 pmFOR F*CK-UPS LIKE Nicholson “immediate corrective action” CONSISTS OF GOING OVER, LOOKING AT THE PROBLEM, SAYING “how terrible…we’re doing something right away about this”, THEN DOING NOTHING AT ALL ABOUT IT!!!!!
WHICH RENDERS THE IN-Justice department’s ARGUMENT OF “POOR PERFORMANCE” BY THE PURGED PROSECUTORS AS A PACK OF LIES, POLITICAL VENDETTA AND CRIMINAL MALFEASANCE!!!!!
IT IS DIFFICULT INDEED, BUT IN ORDER TO MANUEVER THE STRATEGY OF SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS BEFORE GETTING READY TO PULL THEM OUT IS ESSENTIAL, AND GETTING CHIMPya’s HOOKS OUT OF THE TROOPS TO DRAG THEM BACK HOME BEFORE MORE DIE FOR Bush’s FOLLY!!!!!
CHIMPya, FRANKENCheney and his neo-CONmen, FAT-F*CK Rove, Dumbsfailed, WolfFARTWhizz, Tenet, Goss, Powell, Armitage, Perle, Feith, CAD-ley, Rice, THESE AND OTHER SCUM WERE ALL UNPREPARED AND HAD NO PLAN FOR WHAT TO DO IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE FALL OF Saddam—-GOOD GOING, YA BUNCH OF ROYAL F*CK-UPS!!!!! AND LEST US NOT FORGET A RESOUNDING SLAP—-SLAP! AND PUNCH—–PUNCH! IN THE FACES OF CREEPS LIKE Kristol, Hanson, Malkin, Coulter-GEIST, FAUX-FOX News AND THOSE IN THE MEDIA WHO HOLD THE DELUDED BELIEF THAT Iraq AS IT NOW STANDS IS SALVAGEABLE IN ANY WAY—–DOLTS, CRIMINAL FOOLS, BOMBASTIC IMBECILES, MENDACIOUS MORONS, PERNICIOUS HALF-WITS, NAZI-FASCIST SCUMBAGS, ALL OF YOUSE!!!!!
LISTEN UP, SOLDIERS! “TROOP PENETRATION” DOES NOT MEAN GOING INTO THE Iraqi CIVILIAN POPULATION WITH YA LITTLE THIRD-LEGS AT ATTENTION AND RARIN’ TA GO “INTO” THE ENEMY!!!!!
WOW!!!!! HURRICANE KATRINA HAS MOVED 300,000 PEOPLE FROM THE PANHANDLE—-THAT’S ALMOST AS MANY, BUT NOT QUITE AS MANY INNOCENT Iraqi BYSTANDERS THAT CHIMPya HAS KILLED IN HIS ILLEGAL INVASION OF Iraq—-ABOUT 500,000 KILLED AND CLIMBING EVERY DAY!!!!! QUITE A WAR CRIME RECORD!!!!!
TAKING THEIR SWEET TIME TO “HELP” ARE THEY—-WHAT’S THAT YOU SAID, CHIMPya? “We will render IMMEDIATE assistance…” I GUESS IMMEDIATE HAS A DIFFERENT DEFINITION IN YOUR SLIMY, LYING VOCABULARY!!!!!
THIS IS THE WAY The Military Industrial Complex HAS ALWAYS WEAVED ITS TREACHEROUS WEB OF INTRIGUE AND POWER-PLAYS—-HELPING ONE TYRANT OR TERRORIST, FROM Saddam to Osama, BACK AND FORTH, THEN TURNING AROUND AND STABBING THEM IN THE BACK WHEN THEIR USEFULNESS TO The Military Industrial Complex and THEIR CRIMINAL CO-CONSPIRATORS LIKE The Bush Crime Family, IS ENDED!!!! WHAT A BUNCH OF SOCIOPATHIC NAZI-FASCIST CRIMINAL INHUMAN MONSTROUS SCUM-SHITS, BABY-KILLERS AND RACIST JINGOISTIC DEMAGOGUE FEAR-MONGERS!!!! The Military Industrial Complex, The Bush Crime Family, Bushland Uber Allies AND ALL THEIR SUPPORTERS IN THE MEDIA AND ELSEWHERE MUST ALL BE RUTHLESSLY LIQUIDATED AND THEIR INFAMOUS NAMES LEFT IN THE HISTORY BOOKS SO THAT ALL WILL KNOW WHAT DAMNED UNGODLY MALIFICENCE THESE MASS-MURDERING WAR CRIMINALS HAVE AS THEIR SO-CALLED “LEGACY OF BLOOD, TEARS AND HORROR”!!!!!
Joe Wilson, the repugnant-repub rightwingnut crank fudge-pachyderm NEEDS TO TAKE NoDoz(tm) SO HE CAN STAY UP NIGHTS PLANNING HIS NEFARIOUS SCHEMES WITH HIS FELLOW-TRAVELLING repugnant-repubs TO UNLEASH NEW HORRORS UPON THE AMERICAN PUBLIC—–WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT Joe Wilson AND HIS UN-RELATED NAMESAKE Heather Wilson BOTH TAKE DIRT-NAPS AND MY NAMESAKE Raymond Chandler’s “THE BIG SLEEP”(tm) SO THAT THESE TWO Wilsons AREN’T ABLE TO ENACT THEIR repugnant-repub BRAND OF EVIL, VILE MACHINATIONS THAT HARM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE EVER AGAIN—-FOR THEY WILL BE IN A NEW LINE OF WORK—–PUSHING UP DAISIES, WORM FARMING AND MAGGOT WRANGLING!!!!!! HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH!!!!!
I laughed myself silly when I saw this. Is this really the best we can do in the area of computer-aided language translation?
Comment by TripMaster Monkey
Although this is a bit off thread, as a professional translator (mostly between Japanese and English), I feel moved to reply that if you think this is silly, you should see Japanese-English computer translation. Someone once gave me such a computer-translated manuscript to check, thinking that might be easier on me (despite my advanced degrees in Japanese) than translating from scratch. It, in fact, took more time, and I found it to be useful only for lists of nouns. Anything with a verb, forget about!. I finally gave up and retranslated most of the original (except lists of things, involving one or two nouns per line). One of my favorite bloppers was the “translation” of the address Yoyogi San-chome, which is sort of like saying “Yoyogi Third Avenue.” The machine, unable to distinguish between numbers in addresses or titles and regular plurals, came up with “Three chomes of Yoyogi.”
March 23rd, 2007 at 12:57 am