ThinkFast: April 18, 2007
ThinkFast: April 18, 2007
Last night, over 10,000 “Virginia Tech students and supporters lifted thousands of candles to a sapphire sky to remember the 32 people killed by a campus gunman.” Others across the country expressed their sympathies through online vigils and forums. See profiles of the victims here.
A CNN poll finds most Americans (72%) say they are closely following the ongoing dispute over timetables for Iraq withdrawal. “Six in ten think that they would wind up siding with the Democrats in this dispute; 37% say they are more likely to take the President’s side.”
In a speech today at the National Holocaust Memorial Museum, President Bush will “announce a new set of sanctions on Sudan in an attempt to pressure the Khartoum government to allow a peacekeeping force into the turbulent Darfur region.”
The NYT writes that the selection of comedian Rich Little as headliner for the White House Correspondents Association dinner this weekend is seen as “a symbol in the liberal blogosphere for what its members consider the proclivity of Washington reporters to give Mr. Bush and his administration a pass.”
“The World Bank’s board of directors is scheduled to convene tomorrow and may try to figure out what to do about calls that the bank’s president, Paul Wolfowitz, resign because he gave a big raise and promotion to his girlfriend, Shaha Riza.”
Gov. Tim Kaine (D-VA) will name an independent panel to conduct “a very thorough after-action review” of the events surrounding Monday’s mass shooting at Virginia Tech. “The idea is to do this after any significant incident,” Kaine said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.
The House yesterday passed the Taxpayer Protection Act, to protect taxpayers against “identity theft, deceptive Web sites and loan sharks.” It also makes it “easier for taxpayers to retrieve property lost as a result of a wrongful Internal Revenue Service levy and directs the IRS to notify lower-income people that they qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit.”
Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq has requested changes that would break down that firewall between the military’s public affairs office and “Pentagon efforts that use deception, propaganda and other methods to influence foreign populations.”
“Under criticism for poor treatment of injured soldiers, the Pentagon announced new measures Tuesday to provide more health screenings, improve its record-keeping system and simplify an unwieldy disability claims system.”
Only 7.3% of 2006 tax returns filed from Jan. 1 to April 14 designated a $3 contribution to the public campaign-financing system, according to data the Internal Revenue Service prepared for USA Today. “It is the latest sign that taxpayer support to help pay for presidential campaigns is waning.”
And finally: Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is “seriously thinking” about granting Doors singer Jim Morrison a posthumous pardon for his “1970 indecent exposure and profanity convictions stemming from a Miami concert the year before.” “He died when he was 27. That’s really a kid, when you think about it, and obviously he was having some challenges. There’s some dispute about how solid the case was,” Crist said.
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Dennis Kucinich will file Impeachment Charges on Vice President Dick Cheney
from Washington Post dot com April 17 2007
Looks like he's reached his boiling point.
Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), the most liberal of the Democratic presidential candidates in the primary field, declared in a letter sent to his Democratic House colleagues this morning that he plans to file articles of impeachment against Vice President Dick Cheney.
Kucinich has made ending the war in Iraq the central theme of his campaign. He has even taken aim at the leading Democratic presidential candidates in the field for their votes on authorizing the war.
Once again Dennis leads the way defending the Constitution. What other Democratic candidate has even half his courage? But the Corporate Media refuses to say his name because he's anti-war.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:12 amA CNN poll finds most Americans (72%) say they are closely following the ongoing dispute over timetables for Iraq withdrawal.
Someone ought to tell McCain that...
April 18th, 2007 at 9:14 amLarry from C sez:
Here's a ">link to the Washington Post article.
Here's a few links to essays expounding on why Deadeye Dick so richly deserves impeachment.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:19 amI hope these 'new measures' finally give our soldiers the care they deserve.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:20 amHold on. The NY Times is calling Bush and the Press Corps a pussy because he doesn't want to be eviscerated again by Colbert. Worse, they call up Markos to hammer the point home?
April 18th, 2007 at 9:21 amRich Little? Couldn't they get that "You can call me Ray, or you can call me Jay" guy? Talk about stale. Oh, I get it they aim to bore the crap out of everyone.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:21 amHopefully just the talk of impeachment will put Cheney's wrongdoings into the light of day and get people talking (even though I'm sure Darth will continue to stay in the dark underground comfort of his dungeon).
April 18th, 2007 at 9:27 amComment by Doktor Texas — April 18, 2007 @ 9:21 am
They tried edgy last year, and they would up getting cut to ribbons.
They're sticking to safe this year.
Colbert should write a presentation anyway and circulate it via Youtube. I'll bet it gets watched more than the actual milquetoast Rich Little presentation.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:27 amNow, if we could only get an enforced law that eliminates White House "efforts that use deception, propaganda and other methods to influence" the domestic population.
Morrison to Crist: Love me two times.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:40 amRich Little?
Comment by Doktor Texas
It's exactly like the Super Bowl. You had an act last year that caused an embarrassing stink (Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake), you get a "safe" act the next year (Paul McCartney).
Last year, Stephen Colbert (who tells it like it is) - this year, Rich Little (safe).
April 18th, 2007 at 9:42 amon a recent SNL, darrel hammond did a sketch as rich little doing his impersonations of celebrities and poking gigs at dubya...
would be a perfect set up for the guy - "hey, i was just chanelling carson"...
April 18th, 2007 at 9:45 amembarrassing stink (Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake), you get a “safe†act the next year (Paul McCartney).
Comment by Proud Dem — April 18, 2007 @ 9:42 am
with that in mind, i can't wait till next years event...
April 18th, 2007 at 9:48 amremember PRINCE's PHALLIC PERFORMANCE this past superbowl???
:-)
Some thoughts on VT. This was the result of one lone man, with two handguns.
Has the War on Terror, the implementation of The Patriot Act, the Department of Homeland Security, the National Security Agency, Guantanamo, The Military Commissions Act really made us safer for all the civil liberties lost?
I submit that we have not been attacked by "terrorists" only because no one has wanted to, not that they couldn't. In fact, if 9/11 was indeed carried out by our own government to provide the excuse for overreaching executive power and 2 wars, the "terrorists" didn't even want to attack us then.
From the point of view of the "terrorists" they don't need to attack us. America is imploding and falling in upon itself just as the twins towers had done.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:49 amTMM, from the article:
Cheers to Kucinich for finally making a move.
Jeers to anyone not supporting an Impeachment inquiry. Anyone not supporting an inquiry should be voted out of office and replaced with an Independent. I and others are getting sick and tired of watching the charade.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:54 amThe Most Trusted Name in News just said random bombings in Baghdad leave 127 dead. That's 4x's the Virginia Tech dead. That's Chinese treasury bills that'll be paid back by your grandkids taxes at work!
April 18th, 2007 at 9:59 amWe are already being fed nonsense and propaganda from the army and w's minions, so petraeus just wants to make it legal. We'll get to see payoffs less secretive payoffs to US papers to write the stories petraeus wants given to us poor suckers.
With all of the education wolfie got, he apparently found out that ethics was something that is relative to your position and political connections. Being new to a position has nothing to do with real ethics. It was obviously no big deal to him to reward his lover with more money by robbing the bank, and to use the bank's funds for politically more openly supporting US policies. All of his whining not withstanding, if he stays in office, then the directors are on the same wave length: lying, cheating, and siphoning public funds for personal use is perfectly OK.
April 18th, 2007 at 10:00 amfound this on the googlenews:
Your Views: The US campus shooting and gun control
The campus shooting in the US has once again raised questions about gun control. Is that the problem? A number of US readers are especially taking issue with the views of Kiwis on this issue.
Here is the latest selection of your views:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10434649
with america-defenders like "alexis", who needs enemies?
April 18th, 2007 at 10:02 am...
#14 BNF...They always include a quote from someone taking a swipe at Dennis whenever he says anything. Do other candidates get that treatment?
It just shows how scared the Corporate Media is of Dennis. He represents the inverse of their world. They're terrified of the things he says.
April 18th, 2007 at 10:04 am13. I can't recall the exact phrase but OBL's plan has been to watch the USA decay from within. Just the fear of an attack can drain resources. Very good point made about all of the increased protection and security exchanged with freedoms haven't made us any safer.
Like a hampster on a wheel. spinning
April 18th, 2007 at 10:05 amholy crap, i agree with dale about something.
April 18th, 2007 at 10:10 amI always made the $3 contribution in the past, but I didn't this year because so many candidates are opting out of the public financing system.
April 18th, 2007 at 10:19 amwith that in mind, i can’t wait till next years event…
Comment by katy
Um, maybe The Wiggles?
April 18th, 2007 at 10:19 amGood Morning BnF, Larry from C and all, Great post's about Kucenich, I agree...Now if we could only get him elected.....Blessings......P.S. what's with all the extra boxes to fill out to post..?
April 18th, 2007 at 10:20 am#15 I should have wrote...
That’s Chinese held American treasury bills that’ll be paid back by your grandkids taxes at work!
April 18th, 2007 at 10:24 amVirginia Tech Shooter Might Have Been Molested By Catholic Priest?
Wednesday 18th of April 2007
by Jay Randal
Cho Seung-Hui the Virginia Tech student who went berserk in shooting rampage at the university, killing 33 people, might have been molested as a young man.
He wrote a play talking about the desire to kill a priest who molested him, and about step-father who did the same to him, so he became psychotic from the abuse.
The apparent sexual abuse caused him to become an enraged bitter person, who wanted revenge on society, so he snapped and went on a killing rampage of hate.
He was not able to form friendships, or relationships, so he stalked females on campus who infatuated him and the first person he killed was a female he stalked.
After he shot the young woman, and male at the dorm, then he dissappeared for about 2 hours, so university police bungled the situation and 31 other people died.
This event is tragic, but abuse might have caused it?!
(Jay Randal, political activist and writer in Georgia, USA.)
April 18th, 2007 at 10:30 amGood for Alexis and all the other Americans who chose to defend us there. "Kiwi"s and "Aussie"s forget their own history. They are just as bloody at heart as we are. But neither of us compare in violence to the tribes in Europe. We kill 10,000 people a year with guns by accident or otherwise but it would take us 4000 years to come close to equaling the 40,000,000 plus that tribal warfare in Europe killed in the 20th century alone. And it's not over yet. Scratch a German and you find the soul of a Prussian - scratch a Frenchman and you find the soul of a Gaul. And Asia is no better - probably worse. Given all that blood, I will never take criticism from Euros, Asians or "Kiwi"s.
April 18th, 2007 at 10:40 am(Jay Randal, political activist and writer in Georgia, USA.)
Comment by Jay Randal
Jay,come on down and fill out an application;
April 18th, 2007 at 10:57 amI believe we have a position for you. LOL
#26
Tell it to the native Americans. The ones that are left.
April 18th, 2007 at 11:11 amLOL National Inquirer > The opinion piece I wrote above is based on facts, that have been revealed by the press. Cho wrote a play in which he wanted to kill a priest who molested him. There is some evidence that he might have been molested. That does not obsolve him for killing innocent people at Virginia Tech, but it might have caused him to do it. Being sexually abused can cause mental problems that can lead to violence.
April 18th, 2007 at 11:15 amOnly 7.3% of 2006 tax returns filed from Jan. 1 to April 14 designated a $3 contribution to the public campaign-financing system, according to data the Internal Revenue Service prepared for USA Today. “It is the latest sign that taxpayer support to help pay for presidential campaigns is waning.
April 18th, 2007 at 11:17 amWEll considering everyone has already said they won't take public funds.. why should we fund it? They are more interested in getting millions and millions from big donors.. it isn't that people are interested in contributing, but they won't take it!
plus i didn't make enough money:P
...but it might have caused him to do it.
Comment by Jay Randal
Right on Jay;that's why your essays are so important to us. LOL
April 18th, 2007 at 11:29 amWhatever National Inquirer floats your boat > lol.
April 18th, 2007 at 11:32 amComment by Larry from C — April 18, 2007 @ 10:04 am
What bothers me is that it is a Democratic aide shooting down impeachment.
If neither the Democrats nor the Republicans will act to clean house, then the people must.
Thus far, the American people are sitting on a huge debt, with negative ammortization and a HUGE balloon payment due in a few years. It's an economic time-bomb that is ticking away.
April 18th, 2007 at 11:57 amAnd Wolfowitz's honey's lawyer is (ta-dah) Victoria Toensing - famous right wing talking head, former attorney to Newt Gingrich's 2nd wife (for ethics questions, while #2 was still married to the Newtster) and big, big critic of Bill Clinton for having sex with Monica Lewinsky. Can you say hypocrite, boys and girls?
April 18th, 2007 at 12:03 pmWhatever National Inquirer floats your boat > lol.
Comment by Jay Randal
Here,Jay,let me fix that for you:
"Whatever floats your boat,National Inquirer."
Or:
"National Inquirer,whatever floats your boat."
Jay,we have tutors and everything here to assist in all manners of speculative writing. You're going to fit right in.
April 18th, 2007 at 12:52 pmBush in speech to VT.....Boo be very afraid when you grab your backpack and head off to class. What a scumbag this guy is.
April 18th, 2007 at 1:34 pm