ThinkFast: May 15, 2007
ThinkFast: May 15, 2007
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) yesterday defended the decision to place scandal-plagued Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) on the Appropriations Committee. “Where do you draw the line?” Boehner asked. “We do not want a blanket allegation to rise to the level of credibility where we are basing our decisions on it. It’s unfair.”
“The military system of determining whether detainees are properly held at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, includes an unusual practice: If Pentagon officials disagree with the result of a hearing, they order a second one, or even a third, until they approve of the finding,” a practice that critics label “do-overs.”
“A United Nations human rights official said he was barred from visiting an immigration detention center in New Jersey yesterday. It was the second time he was denied access to an American immigration jail on a weeklong monitoring tour.”
U.S. forces swept up 2,000 prisoners a month in March and April, almost twice the average from the second half of last year.” As of the end of March, 20,000 people were crammed into overcrowded Iraqi-run prisons, detention camps, and police stations, where detainees are often tortured.
“U.S. Embassy employees in Iraq are growing increasingly angry over what they say are inadequate security precautions in the heavily fortified Green Zone.” Most staff members “still sleep in trailers that one described as ‘tin cans’ that offer virtually no protection from rocket and mortar fire. The government has refused to harden the roofs because of the cost, one employee said.”
Stretched thin by wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the “number of senior captains, or captains closest to promotion, stands at just 51 percent of the Army’s requirements,” according to an Army memo.
Shirlington Limousine, the transportation service linked to the Duke Cunningham scandal, “was not qualified to receive” its Homeland Security Department contract and “instead was given an unfair advantage over its competitors by DHS officials,” the inspector general has found.
Debate over Paul Wolfowitz at the World Bank has “ruptured the bank’s governance system so deeply that finance officials in many countries worry that it may be irreparable whatever happens to Mr. Wolfowitz. If he refuses to resign, many said he might find it hard to travel or issue directives. If he leaves, a fight over choosing his successor is sure to erupt.”
“Americans get the poorest health care and yet pay the most compared to five other rich countries,” according to a new report by the Commonwealth Fund.
And finally: “It seems the Capitol is now manifestly beyond salvation. The Center for Christian Statesmanship, launched in 1995 to convert members of Congress and their aides to evangelical Christianity, has shuttered its operations in Washington.” CQ suggests “the group brought in fewer converts than hungry staffers. Its best-attended Hill function had been its monthly ‘Politics and Principle’ luncheons, which supplemented evangelical appeals with complimentary sandwiches.”
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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I’m not surprised Boehner doesn’t know where to draw the line. There is no line for Republicans since the party of traitors made a strategic decision to abandon the rule of law.
May 15th, 2007 at 9:02 am“into overcrowded Iraqi-run prisons, detention camps, and police stations, where detainees are often tortured….”
I am sure that the Iraqi’s are happy that we invaded their country and took down Saddam Hussein. They are so much better off now. Their new government is a model of democracy. Actually, their new government is just following our lead. If we torture, how can we tell them not to do it.
We have become the enemy. Heaven help us all.
May 15th, 2007 at 9:05 am“A United Nations human rights official said he was barred from visiting …”
Good. Keep the UN out of the USA. They have absolutely no business being here.
Unless, of course, progressives are for the New World Order?
May 15th, 2007 at 9:08 amHey TP, I think you forgot this. Courthouse News (who bills itself as a news wire for lawyers) is reporting “DNC’s Gay & Lesbian Outreach Boss Sues Howard Dean For Firing Him”
It seems that Howard Dean and the DNC are getting sued for sexual discrimination against gays! (snicker).
May 15th, 2007 at 9:09 amAnother day has dawned. Today more bad news about how Bush and the Republicans are tearing this country apart will flow into the public consciousness (and conscience, I hope). And yet the trolls will be here representing the 28% most ignorant, superstitious, mean, racist, xenophobic, cynical of Americans, here with the express purpose of defending their authoritarian regime no matter what.
May 15th, 2007 at 9:11 amDale just reminded me of another descriptor for the 28%: cowardly.
May 15th, 2007 at 9:12 amIt seems that Howard Dean and the DNC are getting sued for sexual discrimination against gays! (snicker).
Comment by Dale
___________
There is no chance that this is an untrue report which is part of a Republican smear campaign, right? Of course not! Have the Republicans ever engaged in such an activity before? Umm, well, as a matter of fact, …
May 15th, 2007 at 9:18 am“an unusual practice; they order a second one, or even a third, until they approve of the finding,†a practice that critics label “do-overs.—
What makes you think she is a witch?
May 15th, 2007 at 9:19 amVILLAGER #3:
Well, she turned me into a newt.
BEDEVERE:
A newt?
VILLAGER #3:
I got better.
VILLAGER #2:
Burn her anyway!
CROWD:
Burn her! Burn! Burn her!…
BEDEVERE:
Quiet! Quiet! Quiet! Quiet! There are ways of telling whether she is a witch.
CROWD:
Tell us! Tell us!…
BEDEVERE:
Tell me. What do you do with witches?
CROWD:
Burn! Burn them up! Burn!…
BEDEVERE:
And what do you burn apart from witches?
VILLAGER #1:
More witches!
VILLAGER #2:
Wood!
BEDEVERE:
So, why do witches burn?
[pause]
VILLAGER #3:
B–… ’cause they’re made of… wood?
BEDEVERE:
Good! Heh heh.
CROWD:
Oh, yeah. Oh.
BEDEVERE:
So, how do we tell whether she is made of wood?
VILLAGER #1:
Build a bridge out of her.
BEDEVERE:
Ah, but can you not also make bridges out of stone?
BEDEVERE:
Does wood sink in water?
VILLAGER #2:
No, it floats! It floats!
CROWD:
The pond! Throw her into the pond!
BEDEVERE:
What also floats in water?
VILLAGER #1:
Bread!
VILLAGER #2:
Apples!
VILLAGER #3:
Uh, very small rocks!
VILLAGER #1:
Cider!
VILLAGER #2:
Mud!
VILLAGER #3:
Uh, churches! Churches!
VILLAGER #2:
Lead! Lead!
ARTHUR:
A duck!
CROWD:
Oooh.
BEDEVERE:
Exactly. So, logically…
VILLAGER #1:
If… she… weighs… the same as a duck,… she’s made of wood.
BEDEVERE:
And therefore?
VILLAGER #2:
A witch!
CROWD:
A witch! A witch!…
VILLAGER #4:
Here is a duck. Use this duck.
[quack quack quack]
BEDEVERE:
Very good. We shall use my largest scales.
CROWD:
Ohh! Ohh! Burn the witch! Burn the witch! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Ahh! Ahh…
BEDEVERE:
Right. Remove the supports!
[whop]
[clunk]
[creak]
CROWD:
A witch! A witch! A witch!
WITCH:
It’s a fair cop.
CROWD:
Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn! Burn!…
Howard Dean and the rest of em’ find it much easier to “advocate” for the laws than to follow them. It’s a tough one, I know.
Comment by VerbalKint
Cowardly? He’s simply making news available. Go call the DNC cowardly then…
May 15th, 2007 at 9:19 am#4 Dale,
Stick with the story at hand.
Looks like Clinton bashing running out of steam, so you brought Howard Dean story.
The subject under discussion is about ‘UN/prisoners and the safety of Baghdad embassy in the Green Zone’…
May 15th, 2007 at 9:23 amWhat Howard Dean and Gays has to do with this story…?!!
#6, cowardly, huh? And something made up by the Republicans PLC? Are we back to the vast right wing conspiracy?
All the whining about the ‘corruption’ on the RNC, but you’re defending *this*? Hypocritical, doncha think?
May 15th, 2007 at 9:23 amComment by PatrioticLiberalChristian(PLC)
It’s all about hypocrisy. It’s well known that republicans don’t care about gays, nothing new there.
May 15th, 2007 at 9:24 amUh, you *do* know what the definition of an ‘open thread’ is, don’t you?
May 15th, 2007 at 9:26 am“Americans get the poorest health care and yet pay the most compared to five other rich countries,â€
Corporate greed, capitalism, cronyism and CEO stratospheric salaries coupled with insurance companies doing the same have lead America into a swampland of bureaucratic BS, denying claims to insured, outrageous co-pays & deductibles and that’s just for those who ARE INSURED!
America was once a model for the planet. I guess it still is, but it’s become a model of ‘how not to do health care & politics’.
Sad, indeed.
May 15th, 2007 at 9:26 am“The military system of determining whether detainees are properly held at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, includes an unusual practice: If Pentagon officials disagree with the result of a hearing, they order a second one, or even a third, until they approve of the finding,†a practice that critics label “do-overs.â€
Judged until proven guilty. I see. What happenned with that annoying legal bit that says that you can’t be judged twice per a crime, if there is no new evidence?
“A United Nations human rights official said he was barred from visiting an immigration detention center in New Jersey yesterday. It was the second time he was denied access to an American immigration jail on a weeklong monitoring tour.â€
Looks as if Abu Graihb and Guantánamo methods are being moved back to the USA.
“U.S. Embassy employees in Iraq are growing increasingly angry over what they say are inadequate security precautions in the heavily fortified Green Zone.†Most staff members “still sleep in trailers that one described as ‘tin cans’ that offer virtually no protection from rocket and mortar fire. The government has refused to harden the roofs because of the cost, one employee said.â€
Use the plastic turkey as a decoy. At least, it will help avoid ONE attack.
Debate over Paul Wolfowitz at the World Bank has “ruptured the bank’s governance system so deeply that finance officials in many countries worry that it may be irreparable whatever happens to Mr. Wolfowitz. If he refuses to resign, many said he might find it hard to travel or issue directives. If he leaves, a fight over choosing his successor is sure to erupt.â€
Yet another institution destroyed. Congratulations, PNAC.
“Americans get the poorest health care and yet pay the most compared to five other rich countries,†according to a new report by the Commonwealth Fund.
Waiting for Pee1 and his idiocy about “socialized medicine” in 3, 2, 1…
May 15th, 2007 at 9:28 amUnfortunately, the Republican government, with its Christian Coalition base, has demonstrated beyond a doubt that a government-run health care system would be disasterous. Just imagine every hospital run like Walter Reed.
And before the Loyal Bushies complain that Walter Reed was a mess before Bush took office (i.e. “It’s Clinton’s fault) I will remind you that before the scandal broke Bush had 6 years and a rubber-stamp Congress giving him unlimited funding to support the troops.
Our Corporate-Controlled Government has been manipulated/destroyed in order to “prove” to the common people that Corporate-run social programs are to our advantage. (Privitization of Social Security, anyone?)
The solution? Remove Corporate influence from the electoral process. Funny how that one reform never gains traction.
May 15th, 2007 at 9:29 amDale, we always knew you were a closeted homo-lover.
Thanks for standing up the the gays.
May 15th, 2007 at 9:30 amComment by tarazan
I think it’s worthy of mentioning. If I was gay, I wouldn’t like being deceived (possibly) by someone who could be a masked republican. If the allegations are true, then Mr. Dean’s words are not consistent with his behavior.
May 15th, 2007 at 9:30 amVK @ 6 I would have thought this would be a tough call for the wing nuts. They hate frivolous lawsuits and this is as frivolous as they come (actually they hate any lawsuit that protects common people), they hate gays, they hate Democrats especially Howard Dean cuz he kicked their asses in November. So who would they pull for?
The answer is clear they choose frivolous lawsuits as long as it is aimed at a Dem.
Liars and hypocrites everyone.
May 15th, 2007 at 9:31 amOK, Dale, I have to admit that initially I did not read the link and jumped too soon on the smear theme (not that there is no basis there). When I did read the link, I noted that this is simply a law suit – which may or may not indicate that Dean is discriminating against homosexuals as a group or firing one individual homosexual for cause. Let’s wait and see how it turns out before making any judgments.
May 15th, 2007 at 9:32 am“Where do you draw the line?†Boehner asked. “We do not want a blanket allegation to rise to the level of credibility where we are basing our decisions on it.
Boner, Boner, Boner, what makes you think you have any credibility? That disappeared when you & the other Rightards absolved Hasturd of any responsibility in the Fingers Foley fiasco.
John, your job now is to call black white & up down. You do a fair job of that, but please, don’t be talking to Americans about credibility.
You have none. zilch. nada. extincto.
By the way, Boner, what’s Foley got his fingers in now?
May 15th, 2007 at 9:33 am“If Pentagon officials disagree with the result of a hearing, they order a second one, or even a third”
DING DING DING Let’s play Quadruple Jeopardy!
May 15th, 2007 at 9:34 amComment by klyde
A former DNC division head filed the lawsuit. Has nothing to do with Republicans.
May 15th, 2007 at 9:34 amEven Red State has turned against Calvert. The conservative activist base of the GOP is recognizing that all they have gotten from their support of the previously victorious GOP is its defeat and proof that conservative ideology does not function when it comes to running a government.
May 15th, 2007 at 9:34 amBush is shitting himself that the 3 troops captured will be tortured by his illegal methods
May 15th, 2007 at 9:36 am“20,000 people were crammed into overcrowded Iraqi-run prisons, detention camps, and police stations, where detainees are often tortured”
The Bush war strategy: Training tomorrow’s terrorists today.
May 15th, 2007 at 9:39 amCompTROLLER V-1
I never said it had anything to do with you rethugs other than to ask which side you would come down on. You and this mornings other wingnut, dale have clearly come down on the side of the frivolous lawsuit.
Rethugs liars and hypocrites everyone.
May 15th, 2007 at 9:42 amBoehner has a point — if the mere unsubstantiated allegation resulted in removal, then the Dems would simply allege something against every Republican — at least Calvert was not caught with the bribe money in his freezer.
May 15th, 2007 at 9:44 amBesides, where are you going to find a clean Republican?
May 15th, 2007 at 9:50 amComment by Klyde
You’re obviously fronting your political views in automatically opining this lawsuit to be frivolous. Any evidence that the suit leans towards being frivolous? I can’t just take your word for it. There’s no evidence that any Republicans are involved in this, as I’ve stated.
May 15th, 2007 at 9:51 am“The country doesn’t believe George W. Bush, it doesn’t trust him, and with 19 months to go it’s only going to get worse,” predicts Ed Rollins, a Republican strategist who ran Ronald Reagan’s 1984 presidential campaign.
… wheeeee!! I enjoy watching the Idiot President fall flat on his face. Well deserved.
May 15th, 2007 at 9:54 amFor the record, anywhere between 28-34% of the country does believe and trust George W. Bush (at least according to his approval rating) and we don’t know, for a fact, that the last 19 months are going to get worse. Mr. Rollins obviously forgot about Reagan’s 11th Amendment.
May 15th, 2007 at 10:00 amBoehner is “scandal plagued” himself in his complicity in the Foley Predator Scandal which was shoved under the rug when Foley went into rehab for “alcohol”?? (go figure!) but people are still holding Hastert and Boehner personally responsible for throwing our children in the Congressional Page Program to the lions when they are ostensibly acting “in loco parentis” (as their parent) while the kids are participating in the program. The continuing avalanche of scandals has eclipsed the Foley Debacle but americans do not forget – and the only reason Boehner is so defensive about “where to draw the line with scandals and appointments” is because he’s scandal ridden himself and still in office. By exonerating and taking the side of Calvert, Boehner is essentially attempting to defend himself.
May 15th, 2007 at 10:01 amBoehner has a point — if the mere unsubstantiated allegation resulted in removal, then the Dems would simply allege something against every Republican — at least Calvert was not caught with the bribe money in his freezer.
Comment by Jake
Yes, Jake, but Calvert was caught by the police with the hooker’s head in his unzipped trousers.
May 15th, 2007 at 10:02 amCompTROLLER V-1
Fronting my political views? On a news and politic blog? Who would have thought it.
As I wrote earlier I never claimed that any rethugs were involved in the suit other than to state what is clear from your post and dale’s that rethugs will back a frivolous as long as it is filed against a person or group (in this case both) you don’t like.
Rethugs: Liars and hypocrites every one.
May 15th, 2007 at 10:03 amBush, his Cabinet and his entire administration at this point have squandered the trust of the american people are, essentially, are impotent and irrelevant at this point. The people no longer respect the president and anyone under him; Once betrayed by lies, the people have deserted the rat-infested, sinking SS Bush/Titanic. It’s over for Bush but what’s even more interesting is to observe his tenacious and profoundly flawed ego as he obstinately refuses to come to the aid of his own party. THIS is the primary characteristic of a psychologically compromised ego! He doesn’t give a rat’s a$$ about how he’s continuing to tank every Republican candidate. He could care less that his very actions are destroying the GOP, day by day. He’s in a world of his own – that’s painfully clear.
May 15th, 2007 at 10:04 amMr. Rollins obviously forgot about Reagan’s 11th Amendment.
Comment by Jake — May 15, 2007 @ 10:00 am
Is that the ‘party before country’ amendment Jake?
May 15th, 2007 at 10:07 amJake,
I remember Reagan’s sad “11th Amendment.” The one that proves that he was about party over country. “Thou Shalt Not Speak Ill of a Fellow Republican.” Right?
Awesome that you think party loyalty first, country second.
May 15th, 2007 at 10:07 amA United Nations human rights official said he was barred from visiting an immigration detention center in New Jersey yesterday. It was the second time he was denied access to an American immigration jail on a weeklong monitoring tour.
Do we have something to hide?
May 15th, 2007 at 10:16 amAmericans get the poorest health care and yet pay the most compared to five other rich countries,†according to a new report by the Commonwealth Fund.
But let’s just keep doing things the we are — right trolls?
May 15th, 2007 at 10:17 amIt seems the Capitol is now manifestly beyond salvation. The Center for Christian Statesmanship, launched in 1995 to convert members of Congress and their aides to evangelical Christianity, has shuttered its operations in Washington.†CQ suggests “the group brought in fewer converts than hungry staffers. Its best-attended Hill function had been its monthly ‘Politics and Principle’ luncheons, which supplemented evangelical appeals with complimentary sandwiches.
Heh. Thank god…
May 15th, 2007 at 10:20 amWhy doesn’t the UN condem condem the prisons in China, Cuba, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria or Zimbabwe?
May 15th, 2007 at 10:21 amWhy must the US be treated differently than other nations?
Double standard.
Screw the UN, they stay silent on the real tyrannies but bother us.
US out of UN!
There is a reason that their is no money for the green zone personel. All the money is going for bombs and jails, jails, jails. Guantanamo, immigration, and iraqi alike. Its a great way to spend half of every tax dollar your send to george w bush and his henchmen.
May 15th, 2007 at 10:21 amThis is obviously the way of your future. So get used to it green zone. You will be experiencing this for a long time. And just think that you are footing the bill as well. So smile.
Boehner is “scandal plagued†himself in his complicity in the Foley Predator Scandal which was shoved under the rug when Foley went into rehab for “alcohol�? (go figure!)
Comment by veritas
Yes, and Bonehead is also known for distributing tobacco lobby checks right on the floor of the House to interested takers.
May 15th, 2007 at 10:25 amBush the Decider doesn’t seem to have the balls to decide anything that involves changing direction. It’s a good thing Bush was never a stockbroker since he’d have croaked in a bear market.
Bush has been told for some time now that he’s breaking the Armed Forces. As C-o-C, he should have heeded these warnings and either began a redeployment or brought in the Draft. Instead, he crossed his fingers and prayed for a miracle. (Always works in the movies.)
Now, Reagan, who really was a movie actor, knows that wasn’t how reality worked. When 200+ US troops were killed in Lebanon, he yanked them out immediately. He used the invasion of tiny Grenada as a diversion. (Always works in the movies.)
It’s odd. Bush has really f*cked the DoJ and yet Republicans keep getting indicted. Just how many would be behind bars if the US had a really honest and competent AG? I’m guessing the GOP folds as a political force after the 2008 election and goes the way of the Whip Party.
And Wolfowitz has turned the World Bank into a joke. And the G8, Africa, ALBA, and Asia know it. I’m sorry, but the Red China is sitting on so much spare cash that it could easily replace the World Bank tomorrow. And the EU may well think it’s time to ditch these tools of American oppression. After all, the Euro is now the prefered currency in the world ever since Bush turned the Greenback into bumwipe.
May 15th, 2007 at 10:25 amdavid,
May 15th, 2007 at 10:32 amI agree the Republican party should be outlawed after 2008! We need de-Reublicanization as Germany needed de-Nazification after WW2. The Democrats whould change the constitution so that all parties except the Democrts are outlawed.
The Democratic party is honest and works in the interests of the people.
A Democratic one party state isn’t that bad!
Davidd,
May 15th, 2007 at 10:35 amThe Us is the most oppressive regime on the planet. Prisoners are abused and the people have no voice. Once Hillary wins we will be a free nation. No more Christian and Zionist control of America!
We will be a free nation as Russia, China, Cuba and Iran are.
They are shining examples of freedom whom we must emulate!
Interesting thought… shame you don’t apply that idea to every post on here.
And klyde, you’re still assuming it’s frivolous:
May 15th, 2007 at 10:36 am
Ah yes, the Democratic way… outlaw anybody with whom you disagree.
May 15th, 2007 at 10:39 amDale,
May 15th, 2007 at 10:42 amThe Republican party is criminal like the Nazis.
It should be banned!
So should every party be ‘banned’ that has crooks in it? Or only the Republicans?
May 15th, 2007 at 10:45 amOT Sorry, Good Morning all, great post’s from all but the trollies….Read in my local paper, buried in small print, that the Alaska fisheries has a problem with the china contaminated feed being given to small salmon about to be released into the ocean’s. So far none of the fry have died….They have a problem because they have no substitute to feed so they will continue to use the feed untill they release the fry, soon…The FDA and other agencies (don’t think) there will be any problems by the time the fish return several year’s from now and are harvested…….Ummmm, I know a little about a lot of thing’s and it seem’s to me since fish do (everything) in the water and the everything is then eaten by other fish, bird’s and mamel’s including us this is a big problem…And who the hell trusts the FDA or any agency run by this dreadful administration.. Maybe this article should of been front page and called FOOD FOR THOUGHT and new way’s to eliminate an entire country from with in………You are what you eat and if we are not careful, with this administration we could all be dead.. Either from their forever war’s or total lack of accountability and non funtioning agencies…..Blessings
May 15th, 2007 at 10:52 amAnd now the Democratically-controlled Congress approval rating is below Pres. Bush’s!
Gallup poll here.
There is just SO much bad news to ignore, isn’t there!
May 15th, 2007 at 11:12 amToo funny Dale you name jack somone to make a vapid point, then attack that person, neither Gerald, or Jay would say those things. Please don’t make yourself look like a fool.
May 15th, 2007 at 11:15 amnamejack someone? Sure I did… keep making those excuses to yourself to hide from the truth.
May 15th, 2007 at 11:21 amBut you did Dale, then you attacked that person pretty pathetic there dude, who is trying to hide from the truth?
May 15th, 2007 at 11:27 amDale sez:
Yes…Congress’ approval rating would probably rise significantly if Pelosi would put impeachment ‘back on the table’.
It’s funny how you seem to think that 33% is a victory, Dale…I guess when you’re a Repuke shill, you’ll grasp at any straw at this point…
May 15th, 2007 at 11:28 amnamejack someone? Sure I did… keep making those excuses to yourself to hide from the truth.
Comment by Dale
Name hijacking has been rampant the last few days. Just so you know.
May 15th, 2007 at 11:29 amWho, pray tell, did I namejack? Every single post that I have EVER made on TP has been under my own name… a fact that TP admins could easily check.
Please, if you’re going to make things up, at least use a little imagination.
May 15th, 2007 at 11:33 amUh Dale you just namejacked Jay, and Gerald, to make you stupid point, so you could attack all the evil liberals for the nazi like behavior. Please stop using Dale, Jake, patrick1 whatever. you are a scared child, with clear psychological problems.
May 15th, 2007 at 11:37 amSo should every party be ‘banned’ that has crooks in it? Or only the Republicans?
Comment by Dale
History has shown that the republican party doesn’t merely have crooks in it. It is the party of corruption; everything they try to accomplish is for personal gain, either their own or their “good ‘ol boy” buddies. A person would be hard pressed to name anything republicans have done that was good for the country as a whole, and not just their cronies. Freeing the slaves was about the only good thing they have ever done. It’s been a downhill slide ever since.
May 15th, 2007 at 11:45 amI was shocked to see a Gallup poll released today that shows the DemocRATic lead Congress’ approval rating to be lower than Bush’s at just 29%. WOW. That took all of five months. Now that Americans know that Democrats have no interest in changing course on the war, rather just dipping their hands in the blood of our soldiers for political gain, they are actually more unpopular than Bush.
Wonder how that will play out in 2008? Don’t worry – Hillary will save you.
May 15th, 2007 at 11:45 am#42 Joker, they do talk about those countries, apparently you choose to ignore them. Besides, what do the actions of other countries have to do with the US? Are we the world leader? Or the world follower? Follower as in “why bother us, look at what the other guy does” I thought they were to look to us for the example, not the other way around.
#50 Dale I don’t think that the Republican party should be banned. However I do feel that the most radical elements have taken the party over. They have driven the party so far to the right that they can no longer see what the main stream looks like. In all of American history I can not think of a time when the party in power has moved so decisively toward graft and corruption on such a wide scale. There has always been pockets of corruption throughout politics however the last 6 – 10 years has made the Republican party look like la cosa nostra. They have turned vote buying into an open and accepted practice (think K-Street).
When I was a kid the republican party was for responsible government spending with as little interference in peoples personal lives as possible. Now they are only for lower taxes, they seem to want to involve themselves in every aspect of our lives from listening in on our phone conversations, knowing what books I read, what financial transactions I make, who I donate to, to what I do with my own personal self be it having an abortion to using Birth control to any number of issues. When I was a kid the republican party was against getting entangled in foreign wars, my Dad (a WWII vet) hated Kennedy and Truman for getting us mixed up in Vietnam and Korea (his brother had a massive head injury during Korea and was never the same). When I was younger the republican party hated election tricks such as gerrymandering or redistricting, yet now it is accepted in Texas, Colorado and other places. When I was younger the democratic party was the one with the election fraud cloud hanging over their heads, now with Ohio, Florida, the DOJ scandal etc… that cloud is firmly planted on the right hand side of the spectrum. When I was younger the republicans favored open debate now they only seem to want to flood the debate field with pseudo facts and propaganda via rush, fox and their extensive media domination. I look around today and I see what appears to be a pattern of corruption that spreads from coast to coast from the Canadian border to the rio grande, yet I still don’t think they should be outlawed. What I do think should happen is that the RNC should probably be subject to RICO as it seems that the same criminal events following the same criminal patterns are occurring all over the country. You see Tom Delay is not the first guy to use the scheme he is in trouble for, other republicans in other parts of the country have already gone to prison for the exact same actions, so there is a pattern. Anyhow I never thought the republican party would be come such a cartoon caricature so quickly and I never thought the republican party would ever put party over country, but they have and they should be ashamed for it.
May 15th, 2007 at 11:46 amKrazny, you’ve gone over the edge this time. You’re making completely baseless accusations that I’ve namejacked; but go ahead and believe whatever random thoughts go through your little mind.
May 15th, 2007 at 11:57 amTemper temper dale, may want to start hitting the anti-psychotics agian. I am sorry to blow your cover, but man you are too much fun.
May 15th, 2007 at 12:01 pm#63
The sad part is I bet many lefties here feel that opposition should be jailed.
May 15th, 2007 at 12:11 pmI see a number of conservatives doing touchdown dances over the fact that they evidently found one poll result which shows Bush with higher approval ratings than congress. I hate to spoil the party, but the last 6 major poll results for Congress are 35, 39, 38, 35, 35 and 44 for an average of 37.66. The last 6 for Bush are 35, 38, 34, 28, 33 and 35 for an average of 33.8. Since poll numbers are ALMOST ALWAYS HIGHER FOR THE PRES THAN FOR CONGRESS, I’m not sure why conservatives are dancing. Oh well….
I also see conservatives trying to make something out of the fact that someone is suing Howard Dean for wrongful termination. Dean fired a guy because the guy’s boyfriend was saying nasty things about Dean and the DNC. It seems that the boyfriend didn’t like the fact that the DNC wasn’t more aggressively fighting state efforts to make it tougher for gay marriage. Conservatives: I could have sworn I heard you saying something about those horrible frivolous lawsuits and how terrible they were for our system. What? Have you changed your minds?
May 15th, 2007 at 12:15 pmWhy not just ban parties all toghether? Let’s go “clean slate”. Every seat is up for grabs, and it’s everyone for themselves. No “party lines”, no BS, just the person who wishes to be a public servant and their wishes to help the public by doing the right thing. If that were the case, I’ve got a shiny quarter that says about 15% of those in office get their chairs back, the rest would get beaten by a landslide.
May 15th, 2007 at 12:15 pmCraig, most of the Founders actually felt that having two major parties was the optimum setup for our kind of representative republic. Jefferson and Adams, for example, were concerned that if there were a bunch of parties, there would be a chance for leaders who were not supported by the majority of citizens.
May 15th, 2007 at 12:21 pmI also see conservatives trying to make something out of the fact that someone is suing Howard Dean for wrongful termination. Dean fired a guy because the guy’s boyfriend was saying nasty things about Dean and the DNC. It seems that the boyfriend didn’t like the fact that the DNC wasn’t more aggressively fighting state efforts to make it tougher for gay marriage. Conservatives: I could have sworn I heard you saying something about those horrible frivolous lawsuits and how terrible they were for our system. What? Have you changed your minds?
I have not heard of this. Link?
May 15th, 2007 at 12:22 pmProject much there M12? I don’t hear to often a liberal progressive type advocating prison for the opposition, but often hear conservatives discuss rounding up all the liberals.
May 15th, 2007 at 12:26 pmm12, go ask your fellow troll, Dale, #4 above for the link. Of course, I didn’t need his help to find out about the case because I’m not an imbecile.
May 15th, 2007 at 12:27 pmI understand that the party system had good intentions at the onset, but it’s all jacked up now. Republicans and democrats alike are jacking things up, while pointing the finger at the other party. It’s not gonna happen, but it would make for great TV if they just canned everyone and started fresh.
May 15th, 2007 at 12:32 pmHas anyone seen Tancredo’s favorite work of fiction? It’s “An Inconvenient Truth” by Al Gore:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-personal-side-books,1,7228929.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines&ctrack=1&cset=true
May 15th, 2007 at 12:34 pmGood point Craig Mack….Can we throw in a few other item’s as well.? Complete back ground check’s published on every candidate, affiliation to all group’s…Campaign finance reform, like none please and equal time on the media front….Any one with any wrong doing should be eliminated from joining the race and last but not least term limit’s…Both parties have old, no neck, fat faced large assed pig’s at the trouth….There is no longer any republican conservatives of the old, only neo-cons, just as there are no longer many true libral’s, many of them are merely republican lite…Our leader’s have lost their compass and now nearly all worry about their up coming election instead of what’s the best for our country today, tomorrow and next year……Impeach, jail and seize the asset’s of all wrong doer’s from either side..I am equaly critical of both parties when they are at fault…..Blessings
May 15th, 2007 at 12:40 pm#68 Craig, most of the Founders actually felt that having two major parties was the optimum setup for our kind of representative republic. Jefferson and Adams, for example, were concerned that if there were a bunch of parties, there would be a chance for leaders who were not supported by the majority of citizens.
Comment by Bluedog49 — May 15, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
But that is exactly what happened in 2001. Gore won by 500k votes countrywide, but the actual system (and a bought and paid bunch of “public servants”) handed the victory to Bush.
May 15th, 2007 at 12:46 pm#66 – Is Dean and the radical left trying to shut down free speech again? Dare criticize a Democrat.
The party of the thin-skinned is in for a shock come 2008. The radical right is readying for war against Queen Hillary and her thugs. She will not be protected the way she is now by the MSM.
May 15th, 2007 at 12:48 pm#76 #66 – Is Dean and the radical left trying to shut down free speech again? Dare criticize a Democrat.
The party of the thin-skinned is in for a shock come 2008. The radical right is readying for war against Queen Hillary and her thugs. She will not be protected the way she is now by the MSM.
Comment by Center Right — May 15, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
First, is easy to see that you aren’t anything close to ‘Center’.
Second, the Democratic Party, ‘far left’? Don’t make me laugh.
Third, ‘far left’ doesn’t exist in the USA as of today.
May 15th, 2007 at 12:51 pm#71
Thanks.
Definitely frivolous. Hopefully Mr. Dean has learned that employers should not have to deal with homos if they don’t want to, and works to get rid of the “right to work” statutes.
But it’s 1 liberal nutcase suing another. I doubt the conservative movement wants to get involved.
May 15th, 2007 at 1:00 pm#77 – on this site, the far left certainly exists. The party of partial-birth abortion, gay marriage, playing defense on terror and higher taxes is the Democratic Party. Their true ideas are far left.
What also makes them far left are those who fund them: Radical hate-mongers like Michael Moore, Rosie O’Donnell, George Soros and Harry Belafonte.
The far left in this country will doom Democrats in 2008 like they did in 2004. The hatred they have for their ideological opponents will sink you fools.
May 15th, 2007 at 1:01 pm#70
You mean like that Carnegie Mellon professor?
http://www.legitgov.org/comment/rec_report_150307.html
May 15th, 2007 at 1:02 pmNot sure if one the Carnigie Mellon Professor posts on Think Progress, and two I didnt’ say no one, I did qualify it as very few on the left. As I said in my original post, I have seen many like you and Dale/Jake/Patrick1 whatever name he goes by, and many others advocate detention camps for all liberals. Please don’t project your insecurity onto me.
in response to Center Right, just keep telling yourself that dude, Psst a little hint, “its the war stupid”
May 15th, 2007 at 1:13 pmOh, yes, Harry Belafonte, and his evil calypso ultra far left activists!
May 15th, 2007 at 1:14 pm“Where do you draw the line?” Boehner asked. “We do not want a blanket allegation to rise to the level of credibility where we are basing our decisions on it. It’s unfair.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18305982/ regarding Renzi
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Category:Members_of_Congress_under_investigation#Rep._John_Doolittle_.28R-Calif..29
Allegations only.
It’s just so unfair, isn’t it? Blanket allegations yet raising ‘to the level of credibility where [h]e [is] basing decisions on’ them and forcing the two losers (Renzi and Doolittle) out.
Typical hypocrisy. The line is obviously imaginary and drawn wherever the hell he wishes. When it’s convenient go with it, otherwise, f**k ‘em.
May 15th, 2007 at 1:28 pmPost 46 is an impostor name hijacker troll. I was still in bed at 10:32 am this morning, since I was up late last night. I have contacted TP about this problem of trolls hijacking our screen names.
May 15th, 2007 at 2:06 pmThe post was done by Dale, to bolster his pathetic argument Jay, I know you well enough, that you would not post such drivel.
May 15th, 2007 at 2:15 pmSpaniard: “But that is exactly what happened in 2001. Gore won by 500k votes countrywide, but the actual system (and a bought and paid bunch of “public servantsâ€) handed the victory to Bush.”
Yes, but none of the Founders would have thought that the 2000 election was valid. They had only one standard that anyone can really point to — they felt that elections should reveal the will of the voters. Since the majority of voters in Florida clearly went to the polls favoring Al Gore, no Founder would have agreed with the outcome.
May 15th, 2007 at 2:30 pmCenter-right, since you’ve taken that name, I would have thought that you would understand that the Democratic Party is center-left. The “far left” in this country is the Green Party, the American Socialist Party and, of course, the American Communist Party.
I’m glad to be able to clear things up for you. You seem a little confused.
May 15th, 2007 at 2:34 pmSince this is an open thread, I want to point something out that TP hasn’t addressed (I think.) Mitch McConnell said yesterday that if the Iraqi govt. votes with a majority that it wants us out of Iraq, he will respect their wishes. But, our own congress has already voted with a majority that they want us out of Iraq and McConnell rejects that.
Hello???!!! Republican Senator Mitch McConnell is more concerned with the wishes of the Iraqi people than he is with the wishes of the American people. Does anyone besides me think this is very, very strange?
May 15th, 2007 at 2:37 pmYes, but none of the Founders would have thought that the 2000 election was valid. They had only one standard that anyone can really point to — they felt that elections should reveal the will of the voters. Since the majority of voters in Florida clearly went to the polls favoring Al Gore, no Founder would have agreed with the outcome.
That’s not entirely true. It wasn’t until 1828 that the modern popular vote selection was used.
http://www.mises.org/story/545
The original intent was for each state to send educated people up as electors, who would debate amongst themselves and select the most suitable candidate regardless of the vote of the mob.
May 15th, 2007 at 2:58 pmThe far left in this country will doom Democrats in 2008 like they did in 2004. The hatred they have for their ideological opponents will sink you fools.
Comment by Center Right —
Please return for your helping of crow in ‘08; it’ll be spiced just the way you like it.
You dorks made similar claims in ‘06. I saved those as well, and posted them after the election, so everyone could have a good laugh. I’ll be doing the same with yours, Mighty Kreskin.
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