ThinkFast: June 14, 2007
The Bush administration has recast the Justice Department’s role in civil rights “by aggressively pursuing religion-oriented cases while significantly diminishing its involvement in the traditional area of race.” The Department “has transferred or demoted some experienced civil rights litigators” while bringing in “graduates of religious-affiliated law schools…who favor the new priorities.”
“Three months into the new U.S. military strategy that has sent tens of thousands of additional troops into Iraq, overall levels of violence in the country have not decreased, as attacks have shifted away from Baghdad and Anbar, where American forces are concentrated, only to rise in most other provinces, according to a Pentagon report released yesterday.”
“Responding to shabby treatment of wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center,” a bipartisan group of senators yesterday introduced a measure “to boost disability pay to those hurt in combat and improve care for brain injury.”
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) announced she would join Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s (D-OH) push for impeachment of Vice President Dick Cheney. “Before, it was speculated that no one else would support impeachment,” Kucinich said. His measure has also gained the support of Reps. Al Wynn (D-MD), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Lacy Clay (D-MO), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA).
Fox News Channel is parting ways with Gen. Wesley Clark after two years of being an FNC contributor. A Fox source told the Politico that Clark was ditched in favor of new guest contributor Harold Ford, because Fox viewers “tell us they prefer looking at Ford to Clark.” Clark will now be joining MSNBC as a military analyst.
In a call yesterday “with a group of liberal bloggers,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) “called Marine Gen. Peter Pace, the outgoing chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ‘incompetent.’”
Republicans are told to “blog, blog, blog.” “A guidebook issued to Republican Senate candidates said mainstream media is old news and encourages extensive use of videos and Internet blogging.” It also “advises candidates to always assume they’re being recorded and ensure that their opponents are also being recorded at all times.”
And finally: Live Earth Antarctica has been announced, living up to the extravaganza’s promise to hold concerts on all seven continents. The indie rock band Nunatak — which is “made up of five scientists aged 22 to 28 who are stationed on the generally unpopulated continent” — will be the sole performer. Nunatak will be playing to the smallest Live Earth audience — just 17 people — but will be broadcast to approximately 2 billion people.
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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From the Ewwww dept. :
“Could someone give Darth Cheney a blow job, so we can impeach him?”
June 14th, 2007 at 9:22 am#1Kay: Who would? Dis-gusting thought!
June 14th, 2007 at 9:24 amHappy to see some Dems with a conscience who care about the will of the american people! Jump on board, folks…..it can only net you mucho popularity at this point - and maybe even another stint in office in the long run.
June 14th, 2007 at 9:25 amMSNBC is a much better fit for Wesley Clark than Faux Noise. I was very disappointed in him when he took that job in the first place. I would rather “look” at Wesley Clark any day than I would want to look at anyone on Faux Noise.
June 14th, 2007 at 9:25 amGeneral Wesley Clark has far too much credibility for the likes of Faux News anyway - I never could see that match.
June 14th, 2007 at 9:26 am#2 - a true patriot, of the calibre of a John Paul Jones, a Nathan Hale, crossed of course with Linda Lovelace.
June 14th, 2007 at 9:26 amFaux NoNooz just keeps circling their wagons tighter around the WH and the 28%ers who still support them. Kinda like the turd circling the bowl before the final flush
June 14th, 2007 at 9:30 am“I only regret that I can gag but once for my country,â€
June 14th, 2007 at 9:31 amFaux NoNooz just keeps circling their wagons tighter and tighter in support of the NeoCon WH and the 28%ers who still support them.
Kinda like the t@rd circling the bowl before the final flush.
June 14th, 2007 at 9:33 amI will look forward to Wesley Clark’s appearances on MSNBC.
June 14th, 2007 at 9:35 amI didn’t think he was a good fit for Faux news in the first place.
Did anyone else get a message that the comment section had crashed??
June 14th, 2007 at 9:36 amCaption Contest:
I wish I could recall where I left my car keys….
June 14th, 2007 at 9:37 am#1, It is far too early in the day to even think of that — I think I will puke my coffee!!
June 14th, 2007 at 9:37 am#11 - I did too and it said my message was lost but it actually posted twice.
June 14th, 2007 at 9:39 amI can’t seem to grasp the whole concept of what the pro-Iraq-occupation forces are trying to say. On one hand, they say that if we set a date to leave the “bad” guys will reduce their attacks so that it will look good for our occupying forces to leave. On the other hand, they say that the level of violence will increase until we leave. Now, if we review the situation in September, what will it show? What will we be looking for?
Are the occupation supporters saying that if the violence is ramped up now, it will go down when we leave? If that is so, wouldn’t it be wise if we left to let the Iraqis work out their own problems? If the violence diminishes before September, wouldn’t it look good for us to leave? Whatever happens after that would not be on our watch.
Why do progressive people allow this problem to be framed in the pro-occupation support way?
June 14th, 2007 at 9:39 amOK, the picture reminds me of Tom Tomorrow this week:
http://www.workingforchange.com/comic.cfm?itemid=22406
June 14th, 2007 at 9:41 am#15 Why do progressive people allow this problem to be framed in the pro-occupation support way?
Comment by BearCountry
Because the Dems still don’t know how to stand up and show some balls when it counts. They let the NeoCon Cabal step all over them and have no concise message or any real leadership!
June 14th, 2007 at 9:42 am#17 I’m still perplexed as to the “why”…. why the Dems are allowing themselves to be so trodden upon?? Either it’s true that they have no guts (I’m also gravely disappointed that not many Dems are very eloquent or adept at public speaking in these hearings) or they’re worried that Team Bush, with the criminal help of the FBI, has been wiretapping them?? It really doesn’t make much sense to me to posture in such a large way before the Mid-terms and then cave when it really counts.
It certainly doesn’t make the case for the Dems in 08, does it?
BTW, anyone hear from Barak Obama and why he failed to show for the vote this week? I believe his “no show” has mortally wounded his candidacy.
June 14th, 2007 at 9:47 amWhy do progressive people allow this problem to be framed in the pro-occupation support way?
Comment by BearCountry
The progressives “allow” all the daily issues to be framed by the neo-cons because THEY have virtually NO MEDIA of their own. Other than the internet ALL media are dominated by right-wingers. They have 700 radio stations (with good signals)…Progressives have 40 (many with poor signals). The right wingers can place any story/or hold any story from appearing in all the nation’s largest newspapers. They control what is shown on all network and cable news. Stories that could be the “knock-out” punch for the admininstration NEVER make the air. Damaging stories are minimized, skewed and muddied.
So day after day, the Dems are put on the defensive. Just as the Repubs. planned it to be some 30 years ago. The Dems should be out buying as much media as possible. And working to return the Fairness Doctrine.
Give me such control of the media and I could get Bozo the clown elected.
June 14th, 2007 at 9:49 am#15 Bear Country: What you say makes far too much sense….something both sides of this debate don’t have much of these days. Of course, we can count on Team Bush to cloud the issue with “orwellian speak - aka pure doubletalk”, too.
June 14th, 2007 at 9:49 amCaption Contest:
“Alberto VO5…only his hairdresser knows for sure.”
June 14th, 2007 at 9:51 amHarry Readin’ has the gall to label Gen. Pace “incompetent”!?>!?!?!?
Pointers to Harry:
1. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs does not run the Iraq war, has no operational authority.
2. General Pace has provided a number of candid assessments to both Democratic/Rebublican entities, including confronting Rumsfeld on detainee abuse. You shouldn’t discount that, Harry.
3. General Pace is an honorable Vietnam veteran and a bright individual who knows the dangers of war. He is not complacent like his civilian higher-ups.
4. You are incompetent because you didn’t follow up on forging a new direction in Iraq, instead agreeing to waivable, meaningless “benchmarks.” Monkey say, money should do, Harry.
5. Enjoy confirming the next “competent” chairman, an pro-attack Iran hawker who favors a “generational” war.
June 14th, 2007 at 9:54 amBTW, anyone hear from Barak Obama and why he failed to show for the vote this week? I believe his “no show†has mortally wounded his candidacy.
Comment by veritas — June 14, 2007 @ 9:47 am
I seriously doubt that missing a cloture vote on an unenforceable resolution is really going to hurt him.
June 14th, 2007 at 9:54 amQuick, get Jeff Gannon on the phone…
June 14th, 2007 at 9:55 amTP is malfunctioning.
June 14th, 2007 at 9:55 amCaption Contest:
So many laws to break and so little time…
June 14th, 2007 at 10:01 amTP should fire its database administrator.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:02 amSo the Justice Department is pursuing religious discrimination cases now? Yeah, only “Oh we’re so persecuted” Christian cases. They don’t care about any other religions. When you’re pass over for a job (or fired) or attacked or threatened because of your religion, then you talk about persecution. You’re not being persecuted because someone somewhere is reading Harry Potter or talking about sex or if someone happens to be gay or a different religion than you.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:03 amToasterHead: It was a “symbolic” gesture at worst; a true test of Barak’s commitment to the restoration of law & order in this government at best and I seriously believe that he’s now besmerched his otherwise pure reputation on this one.
The people were watching this cloture vote very carefully and on other threads are extremely critical (and now suspicious) of Obama’s campaign.
Let’s face it - Obama didn’t have to get his hands “dirty” on the war vote because he wasn’t in Congress at the time. Now the naysayers have something tangible on him. Methinks this was a very serious error on his part.
Campaigning is definitely NOT a good reason for a “no show”…..he will now be known as “No Show Obama” by the media.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:04 amThey’re pursuing religious discrimination cases. Yeah, only “We’re so persecuted” Christian ones. They don’t care about other religions.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:05 amBesides, Obama’s rise to popularity has been somewhat artificial. If anyone witnessed some of Barak’s early interviews (before the campaign handlers took him under wing) it was clear that he was unseasoned, inexperienced, and definitely not ready to lead this country. Fastforward to some very serious hours in front of the camera and with handlers firing pertinent questions at him: Yes, Obama is a “quick read” and tends to answer questions with very long, distracting answers which indicates that when he really doesn’t know or comprehend something, he lapses into his “campaign rhetoric” and brings the conversation ’round to an area of familiarity for himself. It’s becoming all too obvious - particularly during the last debate. Unfortunately, his inexperience is beginning to show. Conversely, Hillary’s level of exptertise is rock solid from having been in political circles. I am unbiased in my impression since I wouldn’t vote for either of them at this point in time.
It’s just too bad that Barak didn’t think it was worth his time to make an effort, albeit it purely symbolic, to be there for the vote. He’s disappointed his base as well as many americans who viewed him with hope for the future.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:09 am#20, Larry,
June 14th, 2007 at 10:10 amI understand your point, however, polls show that the American people are way ahead of the MSM and the politicians on the issues. So why are the Democrats spineless?
“Republicans are told to “blog, blog, blog.†“A guidebook issued to Republican Senate candidates said mainstream media is old news and encourages extensive use of videos and Internet blogging.†It also “advises candidates to always assume they’re being recorded and ensure that their opponents are also being recorded at all times.—
Just a couple years too late guys.
Interesting though. I think we are going to see a real attempt for every campaign nationwide to catch that ‘macaca’ moment on tape. Every candidate would be well advised to hire someone to follow their opponent to every campaign stop.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:10 amGonzo and his thugs don’t believe in the Establishment Clause.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:11 ambringing in “graduates of religious-affiliated law schools…who favor the new priorities.â€
Wait, I thought we were fighting terrorism?
June 14th, 2007 at 10:11 am.
#11 Hi Marie - I got all kinds of things when I tried to find TP this morning, did you? I got the dreaded “forbidden” notice early on and then got the “crashed” comment initially but it seems to be fixed at this point. I still cannot utilize any of the formatting features but I haven’t been able to do that for weeks now. I’ve simply learned to work around it.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:12 amSo says Mr. 19%
June 14th, 2007 at 10:15 amAmericans today are well ahead of the MSM on ALL issues because they no longer trust the news media in this country. The internet is the most facile method now. Besides, once one checks the sources and confirms their validity and THEN intentionally watches the MSM for the same report, it’s clear that it’s bastardized out the whazoo! Amazingly, sometimes it isn’t even close to being accurate. Tune into FAUX SNOOZE and it’s a totally different story - or something inane and irrelevant like Paris Hilton or Anna Nicole. They’re a joke at this point.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:15 amCan we get Fox to go on record that they believe looks are more important than substance?
June 14th, 2007 at 10:16 amFAUX SNOOZE is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Team Bush - that’s acutely obvious.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:16 amGive me such control of the media and I could get Bozo the clown elected.
Comment by Larry from C — June 14, 2007 @ 9:49 am
Isn’t that sort of what happened already?
June 14th, 2007 at 10:20 amComment by veritas — June 14, 2007 @ 10:15 am
Hence, the recent attacks on bloggers.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:21 am#42 Give me such control of the media and I could get Bozo the clown elected.
Comment by Larry from C — June 14, 2007 @ 9:49 am
Isn’t that sort of what happened already?
Comment by geoman77
Oh Oh! The Clown Union just filed a defamation suit against you, Geoman77
June 14th, 2007 at 10:28 amWes Clark was WAYtoo good for Fugs News.
Harold Ford is perfect: a fake democrat for a fake news channel.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:30 am#33 Sally & #39 Veritas…Joe Sixpack truly doesn’t understand the Prosecutor Purge. The corporate media hasn’t taken the time to explain how sinister the purge is and what its ultimately about…Stealing the 08′ election. So the public may have the general “feel” that its not right but they don’t really understand. The media has done this intentionally to MINIMIZE anger, understanding and blowback. If the public understood this sotry completely they’d storm the White House and demand impeachment. This is how much power the corporate media has.
This is just one example of one story that the corporate controlled media has controlled and minimized as a gift to Buscho for the deregulation and tax cuts they received.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:32 amYes, Obama is a “quick read†and tends to answer questions with very long, distracting answers which indicates that when he really doesn’t know or comprehend something, he lapses into his “campaign rhetoric†and brings the conversation ’round to an area of familiarity for himself.
Comment by veritas
Except for the “quick read” thing he does the same thing that Bush does when he speaks. Although he’s more eloquent would we really want more of the same. I think this is a more important issue than missing one vote.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:37 amGive me such control of the media and I could get Bozo the clown elected.
Comment by Larry from C — June 14, 2007 @ 9:49 am
Are you trying to get Karl Rove’s job. Tsk, tsk. You have to lose your soul first!
June 14th, 2007 at 10:41 amIt seems to me that Obama has hurt himself is several ways. He was slow on the funding vote (without commenting), he missed the no confidence vote (very symbolic even though it had no substance), his general counsel wrote the op-ed on Huffpo in which he said it would be good for Democrats if libby is pardoned (using a bancrupted hog farmer as a parallel to libby), this showed that either Obama wanted Bauer (the general counsel) to write that, or he has no control of his team and, Obama, when asked if he thought that libby should be pardoned, answered that he hadn’t followed the case closely enough to have a view on pardon. So as far as I’m concerned, Obama has not and is not showing any real leadership. I think that he really is running to position himself to run as someone’s V-P, and showing the insiders that he is not a real threat to the status quo.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:41 amThe Bush administration has recast the Justice Department’s role in civil rights “by aggressively pursuing religion-oriented cases while significantly diminishing its involvement in the traditional area of race.†The Department “has transferred or demoted some experienced civil rights litigators†while bringing in “graduates of religious-affiliated law schools…who favor the new priorities.â€
I’ve $1 that says the “religion-oriented cases” involve christian issues the greater percentage of the time.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:44 amResponding to shabby treatment of wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center,†a bipartisan group of senators yesterday introduced a measure “to boost disability pay to those hurt in combat and improve care for brain injury.
Another veto for the Chimp!
June 14th, 2007 at 10:46 amI don’t think the general public understands as much as political bloggers give them credit for. What percentage of the elderly use the internet? And they vote at a higher rate than most demographics. Until the msm presents them with the facts, elections will be skewed. The “fairness doctrine” needs to be restored but the Dems don’t seem interested.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:47 amRepublicans are told to “blog, blog, blog.†“A guidebook issued to Republican Senate candidates said mainstream media is old news and encourages extensive use of videos and Internet blogging.†It also “advises candidates to always assume they’re being recorded and ensure that their opponents are also being recorded at all times.â€
Everyone knows those who can’t be trusted are the most paranoid….
June 14th, 2007 at 10:48 amResponding to shabby treatment of wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center,†a bipartisan group of senators yesterday introduced a measure “to boost disability pay to those hurt in combat and improve care for brain injury.
Another veto for the Chimp!
Comment by Zooey
And, they screw the soldiers and then throw money at them. Treat them like “hookers”, way to support the troops. How about if they work at avoiding the original “screwing” or is that too complicated.
Your right though, Chimpy will veto it over some small issue, and then tell us how much he loves them.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:53 am“…..and ensure that their opponents are also being recorded at all times.â€
That’s a peculiar turn of phrase, going from (assuming) themselves to be recorded, to ENSURE that their opponents are also being recorded….?
June 14th, 2007 at 10:54 am?
Your right though, Chimpy will veto it over some small issue, and then tell us how much he loves them.
Comment by shane
He only does it for their own good, you know.
Ugh.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:56 amCaption Contest:
June 14th, 2007 at 11:08 am“Rodin has nothing on me.”
Caption Contest
June 14th, 2007 at 11:08 am“Rodin has nothing on me”
It’s just too bad that Barak didn’t think it was worth his time to make an effort, albeit it purely symbolic, to be there for the vote. He’s disappointed his base as well as many americans who viewed him with hope for the future.
Comment by veritas — June 14, 2007 @ 10:09 am
It is too bad, but he could save it with spin - he wanted to stay above the fray of partisan politics and stick to substantive issues. I just think that one symbolic vote is not going to sway a whole lot of people over the totality of the campaign.
Though I do have to wonder - can’t members vote via Blackberry or something? That would seem to be a pretty easy app to make.
I’ve $1 that says the “religion-oriented cases†involve christian issues the greater percentage of the time.
Comment by Zooey — June 14, 2007 @ 10:44 am
That’s an easy dollar. Christians do make up a majority of the U.S. population, so it’s a statistical likelihood. Now whether these cases are disproportionate compared to the makeup of the population - that’s a different question.
June 14th, 2007 at 11:11 amAnd I’m absolutely pissed that my Rep, the Honorable Jay Inslee from Wa1 is not on board. I’ll be emailing him again tonight asking why not?
June 14th, 2007 at 11:30 amCaption Contest
June 14th, 2007 at 11:33 amIs that Rodan swooping down on my ass?
There must have been a cyber attack on TP early this morning, since the posting got shut down completely for a few hours.
June 14th, 2007 at 11:35 amI’ve $1 that says the “religion-oriented cases†involve christian issues the greater percentage of the time.
Comment by Zooey — June 14, 2007 @ 10:44 am
That’s an easy dollar. Christians do make up a majority of the U.S. population, so it’s a statistical likelihood. Now whether these cases are disproportionate compared to the makeup of the population - that’s a different question.
Comment by toasterhead
I’ve got $2 that says the “religion-oriented cases” involve christian issues at a disproportionate rate to the makeup of the population.
June 14th, 2007 at 11:51 amonce again, Barbara Lee speaks for me. I think I will send her some flowers!
June 14th, 2007 at 12:22 pmLot’s of luck with that RUCerious, ….Larsen is my rep and I sent him a scathing email and got no response….Got a form republican lite email response when I asked for impeachment….He’s been mediocre at best in the past and now all he doe’s is piss me off on a regular bases….Told him I would be voting for some one else next election….Blessings
June 14th, 2007 at 12:25 pm