ThinkFast: June 25, 2007
ThinkFast: June 25, 2007
“President Bush was presented with a letter Monday signed by 50 high school seniors in the Presidential Scholars program urging a halt to ‘violations of the human rights’ of terror suspects held by the United States.” The handwritten letter said in part, “We do not want America to represent torture.” Bush “took a moment to read it and talk with a young woman who handed it to him.”
“Iraq’s conflict is exacting an immense and largely unnoticed psychological toll on children and youth that will have long-term consequences.” A World Health Organization survey of Iraqi children under 10 found that 47 percent reported being “exposed to a major traumatic event over the past two years.”
239. Number of bills the House of Representatives has passed and sent to the Senate only to be held up, with conservatives “objecting to just about every major piece of legislation that [Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)] has tried to bring up.”
Yesterday’s Supreme Court decisions show the new “muscle” of the conservative majority, but USA Today notes a division between the far-right justices who are “eager to overturn previous decisions” and the new Bush appointees who are “reluctant” to “completely gut court precedents.”
“The U.S. Conference of Mayors narrowly endorsed a resolution Monday calling for the Bush administration to begin planning for the swift withdrawal of troops from Iraq.” The war is reducing federal funds “for needed domestic investments in education, health care, public safety, homeland security and more,” the resolution states.
“New research shows that man-made climate change could cause the Greenland ice sheet to break up in hundreds, rather than thousands, of years,” the chair of a U.N. panel of scientists said yesterday. “Its entire collapse would raise sea-levels globally by around 23 feet.”
The House yesterday passed voter deception legislation that increases punishments for those who “knowingly convey false information with the intent to keep others from voting.”
“Afghanistan produced dramatically more opium in 2006, increasing its yield by nearly 50 percent from a year earlier and pushing global opium production to a new record high, a U.N. report said Tuesday. … In 2006, Afghanistan accounted for 92 percent of global illicit opium production, up from 70 percent in 2000 and 52 percent a decade earlier.”
Chris Mooney observes, “If the goal is to slam Al Gore, it often seems as if standards of serious discussion suddenly vanish.” Slate’s Emily Yoffee exhibited this behavior in a recent op-ed, demonstrating disdain for complex science. Joe Romm, Steve Benen, and Kevin Drum have more.
And finally: “Some women do it in Starbucks. Others in cramped bathroom stalls. And soon, the women of the House will have their very own lounge for it.” But now, the House “will soon boast a new ‘lactation lounge’ where nursing moms can pump and breast-feed…all in a private facility matching the one that’s been operating on the Senate side for years.” “The Speaker…is committed to making Capitol Hill a family-friendly place to work,” said a staffer for Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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“Thank you Dennis Kucinich for running for president and at each of the debates… bringing up this very important issue and requesting that our fellow Democrats state their specific positions [on] how we’re going to bring health care to all Americans and remove the profit incentive from health care. It has to be removed,” - Michael Moore discussing HR 676 praising Democratic Presidential Candidate Dennis Kucinich.
….Moore pulled no political punches. He explained why the proposed reforms of leading candidates — including John Edwards and Barack Obama — won’t work. And he bluntly suggested that the flaws in at least some of the plans proposed by Democratic presidential contenders could have something to do with the fact that, according to a new CNA study, those candidates have raised more than $3 million so far this year from individuals and political action committees associated with the for-profit corporations of the health care industry.
Moore wants candidates to sign a pledge to support free, universal health care “as a human right for every resident of the United States,” and to work to remove private insurance companies from providing health care. The pledge also calls for stricter regulation of pharmaceutical companies. And it asks candidates not to take any money from the health-care industry — or, if they have taken such money, to give it back.
Kucinich can sign that pledge. What about the other Democrats who would be president?
June 26th, 2007 at 9:12 am“Afghanistan produced dramatically more opium in 2006, increasing its yield by nearly 50 percent from a year earlier and pushing global opium production to a new record high…”
Mission Accomplished!
/sarcasm
“239. Number of bills the House of Representatives has passed and sent to the Senate only to be held up, with conservatives “objecting to just about every major piece of legislation that [Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)] has tried to bring up.—
The new do-nothing Senate, now controlled by the minoroty.
June 26th, 2007 at 9:13 amInspectors in N. Korea to Discuss Closing Nuke Lab
I hear they are also going to discuss unicorns, leprechauns and compassionate conservatives.
June 26th, 2007 at 9:13 amNone of those 239 bills would have been held up by conservatives if the Democrats actually did what they promised.
June 26th, 2007 at 9:13 amPresident Bush was presented with a letter Monday signed by 50 high school seniors in the Presidential Scholars program urging a halt to ‘violations of the human rights†of terror suspects held by the United States.†The handwritten letter said in part, “We do not want America to represent torture.†Bush “took a moment to read it and talk with a young woman who handed it to him.â€
Bush words: “Torture? Where is the torture? Under here? *looking under his desk* Over here? *Looking over a closet* Down here? *looking under the rug* He he heeee…
June 26th, 2007 at 9:19 amWith Bush’s cushy upbringing, questionable intellect, and private schooling, I’m sure he hates all “nerds”. The fact that they would publicly disparage his policies probably has him in an 8th grade snit. He’ll probably have some of his henchmen stuff the kids into their lockers or give them atomic wedgies.
Nonetheless, he’d get “home schooled” by the least of them in a 1-on-1 cage match.
June 26th, 2007 at 9:22 amFunny how its high schoolers who can do what Congress hasn’t had the testicular fortitude to do
June 26th, 2007 at 9:24 am“President Bush was presented with a letter Monday signed by 50 high school seniors in the Presidential Scholars program urging a halt to ‘violations of the human rights’ of terror suspects held by the United States.â€
17 and 18 year old are more mature, humane and rational than our pResident… Sheesh!
June 26th, 2007 at 9:25 amThe article about Bush reading the letter from the high school students is surprising. I didn’t think he read anything.
June 26th, 2007 at 9:27 am“The Speaker…is committed to making Capitol Hill a family-friendly place to work,†said a staffer for Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
Now that’s seriously raining on the parade of the conservative claim to ‘family values’… Democrats need to keep talking about their values like this. It’s what will defeat voter caging and Diebold in 2008.
But, once the Dems get all around majorities, they better step up. Valid Independent candidates will soon be able to replace them if they don’t…
June 26th, 2007 at 9:27 amI didn’t think he read anything.
Comment by Hardy Haberman — June 26, 2007 @ 9:27 am
I doubt he did more than skim the letter, pretending to read it…
June 26th, 2007 at 9:28 amIs this anything like the “Buggery Lounge” – where legislators put it to the citizens.
June 26th, 2007 at 9:30 amAnother sign that Afghanistan is fully in control of the U.S.-led coalition forces. Osama Bin Laden is hiding in a poppy field.
June 26th, 2007 at 9:33 amPlease elaborate with a bill-by-bill analysis. Be specific – your answer counts for 60 percent of your grade.
June 26th, 2007 at 9:35 am239. Number of bills the House of Representatives has passed and sent to the Senate only to be held up, with conservatives “objecting to just about every major piece of legislation that [Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)] has tried to bring up.â€
CLINTON DID IT!
It’s Al Gore’s fault! This is faulty science!
What does 239 mean?
From rubber stamp to loggerneck. I hope the Dem’s throw this in the faces of every person running on the GOP ticket next election (if we have one). While the non-executive branch has no accountaibility right now, these pricks will.
Buh bye GOP. Don’t let the door hit you in the a$$ on your way out (of our lives forever. Oh, and good riddance!)
June 26th, 2007 at 9:36 am#4 – So, blame the Democrats for the failures of the conservatives?
How Republican of you.
June 26th, 2007 at 9:45 am“President Bush was presented with a letter Monday signed by 50 high school seniors in the Presidential Scholars program urging a halt to ‘violations of the human rights’ of terror suspects held by the United States.†The handwritten letter said in part, “We do not want America to represent torture.†Bush “took a moment to read it and talk with a young woman who handed it to him.â€
Oh, and the 50 high school seniors where awarded with a trip to Cuba and a gift voucher for the prestigious Gitmo Golf Resort, completely free, and valid for an undisclosed number of years. The students were scorted to their private jet immediately by the own security personel of the President.
June 26th, 2007 at 9:46 amRepublic Party talking points:
1. You gonna believe – godless U.N. scientists? Did we mention that they work for the U.N?
2. This will be very good for the economy. we should speed up the process by driving more.
3. It’s called “Greenland”. It’s supposed to be green.
4. Man-made? well, God made man, man makes the temperature rise globally, therefore, God wants the oceans deeper. It’s what god requires of us. It’s God’s will.
June 26th, 2007 at 9:49 amLarry from C: Thanks for the excerpts from Moore’s talk. You’re darn right that the candidates who are hedging on true healthcare reform (Obama and Edwards for starters) are doing so because they are “in the pocket” of Big Pharma and Big Insurance – two of our ruling triumverate. And, of course, Big Oil is the third.
Evil Spaniard: Thanks for the laugh! It’s a wonderful way to begin one’s day. You are too much. Keep us rolling, please!
June 26th, 2007 at 9:51 amAt least unicorns and leprechauns are reality-based!
June 26th, 2007 at 9:51 am#11 In order to even “skim” something, the assmption is that one is able to read. I don’t believe we can attribute this trait to the Shrub In Chef.
June 26th, 2007 at 9:52 amNew research shows that man-made climate change could cause the Greenland ice sheet to break up in hundreds, rather than thousands, of years
June 26th, 2007 at 9:52 amThis doesn’t sound new. Unless it’s just research backing up other research.
MORALITY MEANS NOT KILLING PEOPLE!
Tuesday 26th of June 2007
by Jay Randal
How can the US government claim morality when it invades and occupies another nation to control its oil?
It perplexes one’s mind to watch the US government commit acts of barbarism, then to claim righteousness in doing it, but the Bush Regime commits immorality.
Killing for petroleum is wrong, and cannot be morally justified either, so the Congressional membership are accomplices in allowing the funding of war to continue.
While this outrageous travesty is taking place, debate about overhauling dysfunctional healthcare unfolds and Congress claims no funds available to do it, so an irony.
Cut off the funding for the Iraq misadventure, and use that money to start the single-payer healthcare system instead, which would be moral endeavor for America.
Ending warfare and helping the US citizenry to receive decent healthcare are noble acts, so Congress would be wise to pursue those goals, and to stop helping the warmongering profiteers and greedy Oil Cartel CEOs.
(Jay Randal, political activist and writer in Georgia, USA.)
PS: Contact your Reps and Senators in DC to end the funding of the Iraq Fiasco War and to instead fund single-payer healthcare system.
June 26th, 2007 at 9:53 amAnd that would be a waste of science, as well as being just plain…wrong.
June 26th, 2007 at 9:53 amMan-made? well, God made man, man makes the temperature rise globally, therefore, God wants the oceans deeper. It’s what god requires of us. It’s God’s will.
Comment by TROLLBAIT3000 — June 26, 2007 @ 9:49 am
I know this is satire, but I bet you anything, you’ll soon hear trolls using this as an actual excuse… watch.
They do it all the time with tactics we called them out on, like ‘protection’ and ’strawman’ (not that they seem to actually understand any of these terms…)
June 26th, 2007 at 9:54 amMom, Dad!
I’m using the janitor’s laptop here at RNC Summer Camp, because Dick took away all of our e-mail privileges. Boy, he’s sure mean.
He told us this morning that someone got an e-mail out to their family. He was so mad. Mom, I think it was me! I’m getting really scared of Dick. He says he will be doing some target shooting later, and wants me to join him.
He’s also mad about the letter Mr. Bush got from some High Schoolers yesterday. Dick says, how can we be against torture if we’ve never been tortured? Dad, do you think he’ll try torturing me?
Can you come get me soon? I promise I’ll never tune in Olbermann again, even if I’m home alone.
Please! Come get me out of here!
June 26th, 2007 at 9:55 amIn order to even “skim†something, the assmption is that one is able to read. I don’t believe we can attribute this trait to the Shrub In Chef.
Comment by veritas — June 26, 2007 @ 9:52 am
My 6 year old niece skims complex text, picking out only the words she knows (like her own name and things that she likes). That’s Shrub’s level.
June 26th, 2007 at 9:57 amfrom the source article on the students’ request to Herr Bush to stop violating human rights: “The president enjoyed a visit with the students, accepted the letter and upon reading it let the student know that the United States does not torture and that we value human rights,” deputy press secretary Dana Perino said.
Another day, another pack of lies.
June 26th, 2007 at 9:57 amThe appropriate counter-response is to agree: The Flying Spaghetti Monster wants more oceans so that he can have more pirates. If you don’t believe me, look it up – it’s on the internet tubes (and yes, you can use the Google).
June 26th, 2007 at 9:58 amYou guys are a joke.
All democrats want to do is demogoug issues…..they are not really interested in “fixing” anything because – if there is one thing that the 1960’s taught is – there solutions don’t work.
This president has worked hard to actually do things in the area of healthcare and education….two accomplishments that the Dems hate. And tried, to his credit, to fix the problems with Social Security (the biggest demogougagry issue that the Dems love to tlake about)
Question – If Gore is sooooo worried about global warming, why did he do zippo on the issue in all his time in Congress and as VP? Because then he would loose the ability to talk about.
Vote Democrat – not for a change – but for a chance to watch them do nothing.
June 26th, 2007 at 9:58 amNo one with any credibility can actually “slam Al Gore”. He’s the national statesman at this point. He’s taken the past 6 years and progressed personally, scientifically, and oratorically. He’s proven that his agenda trumps that of any of our small-minded politicos and has totally moved on as an individual. He now has international ties with countries which Bush couldn’t even get a return call from.
Al Gore may, in fact, be part of the “rescue team” who has the potential to heal this country. Each time I project ahead and imagine a “Gore/Bloomberg ticket”, my gut isn’t quite cooperative with that. Perhaps the better “fit” would be a “Bloomberg/Gore ticket”. In this way, Gore can settle in as Veep once again (a role he knows well) and can bring international integrity back to the office and the country. He certainly now has the hearts and minds of the rest of the world and the charisma to get things done.
After all: everthing which Gore proposed would occur, has occurred for the corruption caused by the lack of campaign finance reform and the purchasing of our politicians to global warming. He’s become the “contemporary prophet” among intellectual circles. It’s no wonder that the Rethugs can’t remain in the dialogue when pure science enters the equation, isn’t it? They’re all a bunch of airheads with big mouths.
Bloomberg/Gore in 08! I know a few (47%) Independents who are just waiting for this to become a reality!
June 26th, 2007 at 9:59 amI want proof that Bruschâ„¢ can actually read.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:00 amTROLLBAIT3000
And that would be a waste of science, as well as being just plain…wrong.
Exactly my point, assuming I had one.
Briseadh na Faire
June 26th, 2007 at 10:00 amAt least unicorns and leprechauns are reality-based!
I see what you did there.
The appropriate counter-response is to agree: The Flying Spaghetti Monster wants more oceans so that he can have more pirates. If you don’t believe me, look it up – it’s on the internet tubes (and yes, you can use the Google).
Comment by TROLLBAIT3000 — June 26, 2007 @ 9:58 am
LOL… Makes sense, or rather nonsense, to battle one fairytale with another inthe 26%ers. Thanks for the ammunition… :D
June 26th, 2007 at 10:01 amHey Steve: Perhaps you were still in diapers when Gore was Veep then (or your head in the sand??) – that would be the only way you wouldn’t recall that Al Gore was a very strong proponent of laws curtailing CO2 emissions but the Republiscum in office wouldn’t hear of it. After all, they were getting hefty paychecks from Big Oil then who saw the handwriting on the wall if greater MPG were insisted up. You do the math; that is, if you can! It’s self-evident why Gore hit a brick wall when he attempted many times to bring this into focus. The “on the take” scum (Republicans) in Congress were being blackmailed by the people who were paying their bills, dude. That’s why.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:02 amThis president has worked hard to actually do things in the area of healthcare and education….two accomplishments that the Dems hate.
Comment by Steve — June 26, 2007 @ 9:58 am
I don’t know if I’d count destroying the U.S. education system with No Child Left Behind and padding pharmaceutical pockets with the incomprehensible Prescription Drug Plan as accomplishments per se.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:03 amVote Democrat – not for a change – but for a chance to watch them do nothing.
Comment by Steve — June 26, 2007 @ 9:58 am
While you are entitled to your ridiculous opinions, if you want to sell anyone on them, you must provide proof.
I’ll take a guess that you have no proof, are just regurgitating some radio station airhead’s hate-speech, and as a result of your lack of facts, will commence to insult me directly.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:03 amSteve: Do some research before coming here and conjecturing. It’s all in recorded history. Try it sometime….you might actually like knowing the truth.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:04 amTROLLBAIT3000
June 26th, 2007 at 10:04 amThe appropriate counter-response is to agree: The Flying Spaghetti Monster wants more oceans so that he can have more pirates. If you don’t believe me, look it up – it’s on the internet tubes (and yes, you can use the Google).
Dude, your logic is so flawed, more pirates would have an inverse effect on global warming which would shrink the amount of Oceans as ice reforms.
Hey TP buddies: I’m beginning to see the telltale signs (linguistically) that Stevie here is one of our typical village idiot trolls. Let’s take bets on some of his other monikers….ready, set….go! His style is a dead giveaway….too funny!
June 26th, 2007 at 10:05 amOff topic,
JPark, Les Claypool?
Care to elaborate? If it’s one & the same, have you heard the version of ‘Gin & Juice’ he & Trey do?
June 26th, 2007 at 10:05 amTroll alert! Troll alert! Ole stevie boy is our schizoid troll…..lalalala!
June 26th, 2007 at 10:05 amI want proof that Bruschâ„¢ can actually read.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — June 26, 2007 @ 10:00 am
A man who won’t read is no better off than one who can’t read.
Even if he actually can, the fact that he doesn’t makes him just as illiterate as if he couldn’t anyway. So, assuming he can’t read is really just semantics. :D
June 26th, 2007 at 10:07 amGood post, Unbelievable! Bush has ZERO accomplishments for 6 years in office at this point and a legacy as the “All-time worst president” going right now. His botched immigration plan will fall flat on it’s face….this is his “last-ditch lameduck attempt” at getting something on the positive side of his ledger….and the clock is ticking…tick…tock…tick…tock….
June 26th, 2007 at 10:07 amAnd, it’s clear that this immigration plan has absolutely no implementation plan nor the money to make it anything more than toiletpaper…just like Bush’s great “no child left behind” plan….that was a sick joke!
June 26th, 2007 at 10:08 amI guess those high schoolers are now official enemies of the state of BushCo and most likely on the NSA watch list as well as the no-fly list. Gotta keep those unemurikan people in their place, ya know.
And it is interesting to see that the great Dem frontrunners (Hill, Obama and Edwards) are all backpedaling on healthcare, as we knew they would. No real change will happen with any of those candidates. We really do need to shake things up and find someone with the backbone and lack of health industry cash in their pockets to lead this fight. But won’t happen this time around, just more of the same…. say one thing and do another.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:09 amSteve: Do some research before coming here and conjecturing. It’s all in recorded history. Try it sometime….you might actually like knowing the truth.
Comment by veritas — June 26, 2007 @ 10:04 am
The thing that really gets me is how they have an entire world wide web filled with information available through their computer, and all they have to do is type in a few key search words and read… It’s that simple, and yet they won’t even do that much. They’ve taken laziness to a whole new nadir…
June 26th, 2007 at 10:10 amUnbelievable: They will attempt to use it as the weapons in their arsenal are waning these days. Look at Bush and Cheney as a prime example….”duh….we’re part of the Executive Branch….not the last time we looked!” This is more fact than fiction in reality since neither of them has a clue as to how to act as the Executive Branch. However, now that they’ve decided which job they are actually preferring, we can cut salaries to both of them easily. And then, the next step would be to subpoena each of them to testify on everything from soup to nuts since they can no longer claim “executive privilege”.
They’ll both soon realize that they can’t have it both ways. As well, the Hague is preparing two “hot seats” for them when they are flung from the Whit House.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:12 amThe thing that really gets me is how they have an entire world wide web filled with information available through their computer, and all they have to do is type in a few key search words and read… It’s that simple, and yet they won’t even do that much. They’ve taken laziness to a whole new nadir…
Comment by unbelievable — June 26, 2007 @ 10:10 am
But information has a well-established liberal bias, so they can’t rely on it. If it’s not on the Conservapedia, it doesn’t exist.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:13 amUnbelievable: that’s the dead giveaway as to their identities. It’s clear that the term Republican epitomizes laziness (first clue); then the use of the GOP ridiculous talking points. Soon perhaps one of them will replace airhead Perrier Water or Snowflake Tony?
June 26th, 2007 at 10:13 amAs opposed to the Republic Party, who only want your money and who will sacrifice the lives of your children, as well as the entire middle class, to get it.
Yeah – there wasn’t much good done in the ’60s. Only the Civil Rights movement and the space program. And earlier decades are even worse: Universal education, rural electrification, victory in WWII, affordable healthcare, Social security (BTW: why do you think we have SS?), and a host of others. Do you think you or your parents were not helped by any of these programs?
Name me a Republic Party policy that has helped this country.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:14 amI love their new bible: Conservapedia. What a total hoot! To imagine it worth investing this much time and energy in something which the average american will use as toilet paper, I just have to laugh. They’re certainly grasping at straws (or strawmen as the case may be) when they have to stoop to rewriting contemporary definitions….what a bunch of losers.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:15 amWhy didn’t they just call this Conservapid…edia by the title “Orwellian speak”?? After all, he was the creator of this double lingo.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:16 amand the clock is ticking…tick…tock…tick…tock….
Comment by veritas — June 26, 2007 @ 10:07 am
Why thank you – you also, as usual :D
Yeah, you’re right. His crowning accomplishment, by his own standards, is a fictional fish he caught… And with the clock ticking, he’s desperate to find a more Presidential achievement to put on his resume.
No doubt, he will go down as the worst US President for many, many generations to come. I truly hope the Average American learns something of value from this idiot ruining our country…
June 26th, 2007 at 10:16 am“Some women do it in Starbucks. Others in cramped bathroom stalls. And soon, the women of the House will have their very own lounge for it.†But now, the House “will soon boast a new ‘lactation lounge’ where nursing moms can pump and breast-feed…all in a private facility matching the one that’s been operating on the Senate side for years.â€
Nursing does not belong in the f*cking bathroom! That’s disgusting! How many of us like to have our meals in bathrooms?
June 26th, 2007 at 10:16 amJschmo at #4 — WTF?
June 26th, 2007 at 10:17 amThe slacker republicans who served up on a silver platter everything Bush dreamed of; who eliminated the word “oversight” from their vocabulary; who have abandoned their oath to defend the Constitution — and you don’t blame them, but you blame the Democrats with a one-vote majority in the Senate and a slight majority in the House to repair nearly 7 years of damage? In less than 6 months?
Gimme a break.
Don’t tell me what the true religion means – I am one of it’s original apostles. FSM is perfect and infallable. You ae an unredeemable heretic.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:18 amIraq’s conflict is exacting an immense and largely unnoticed psychological toll on children and youth that will have long-term consequences.†A World Health Organization survey of Iraqi children under 10 found that 47 percent reported being “exposed to a major traumatic event over the past two years.â€
Those poor kids. They are as much our responsibility as our returning troops, but we won’t do a thing for them. Maybe we could at least get out of their country, and leave them alone.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:19 amHowever, now that they’ve decided which job they are actually preferring, we can cut salaries to both of them easily. And then, the next step would be to subpoena each of them to testify on everything from soup to nuts since they can no longer claim “executive privilegeâ€.
That would be the just thing to do, so we can pretty much rely on Congress NOT doing it…
They’ll both soon realize that they can’t have it both ways. As well, the Hague is preparing two “hot seats†for them when they are flung from the Whit House.
Comment by veritas — June 26, 2007 @ 10:12 am
If they don’t first escape to a country that won’t extradite them…
June 26th, 2007 at 10:19 amHey Jay Randal – I always appreciate your comments. I live in Decatur. Glad to know that I am not alone in Georgia.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:20 amSadly, bush lied to these children by telling them “we” don’t torture.
Tired of inaction? Corruption?
June 26th, 2007 at 10:21 amSorry this is off topic but we have devised a plan to put pressure on the press. They think we are not out here seething. Well, we are. Please check out my homepage to see what we are planning.
239. Number of bills the House of Representatives has passed and sent to the Senate only to be held up, with conservatives “objecting to just about every major piece of legislation that [Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)] has tried to bring up.
Hey, what about the “nuclear option” the Repubs were always screaming about?
June 26th, 2007 at 10:21 amRe: Chris Mooney observes, “If the goal is to slam Al Gore, it often seems as if standards of serious discussion suddenly vanish.†Slate’s Emily Yoffee exhibited this behavior in a recent op-ed, demonstrating disdain for complex science. Joe Romm, Steve Benen, and Kevin Drum have more.
An editor of our local paper expressed just this behavior not too long ago. It wasn’t even in an op-ed column. This particular editor has a Tech column every Sunday in which he discusses various issues about computers and software. One Sunday he went after Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” (obviously not computer-related) and started his article by pointing out several of Gore’s failures at an early age when he was in college. This apparently was an attempt to suggest Gore doesn’t know what he is talking about.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:21 amBush’s legacy — worst president in US history.
I tell my children to take note — they will have something to tell their grandchildren about living in this historical time.
(That is, if they are allowed to speak about the government and history in the future.)
June 26th, 2007 at 10:23 amHistory books may be rewritten, a la “1984,” if we continue on the present course.
But information has a well-established liberal bias, so they can’t rely on it. If it’s not on the Conservapedia, it doesn’t exist.
Comment by toasterhead — June 26, 2007 @ 10:13 am
Man, no kidding… I have been debating a relatively calm troll about how many Americans are practicing Christians. Even though a religious tolerance website clearly showed that only 35% of Americans are practicing Christians, he refused to accept it – clinging to the fact that 80% in a 2000 census poll called themselves Christians. It was all about his view of the world, and never about facts. The facts were just invisible to him. It was really odd to watch him just ignore them for his own need to believe that this is a Christian nation…
June 26th, 2007 at 10:23 amThe U.S. Conference of Mayors narrowly endorsed a resolution Monday calling for the Bush administration to begin planning for the swift withdrawal of troops from Iraq.†The war is reducing federal funds “for needed domestic investments in education, health care, public safety, homeland security and more,†the resolution states.
Y’all just “narrowly” recognized your fannies are gonna be toast next election day, cuz there’s no money? I guess a resolution is……something.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:23 amunbelievable
If they don’t first escape to a country that won’t extradite them…
So they have to escape the US and go to the US?
TROLLBAIT3000
Don’t tell me what the true religion means – I am one of it’s original apostles. FSM is perfect and infallable. You ae an unredeemable heretic.
Touche
Zooey
June 26th, 2007 at 10:24 amThose poor kids. They are as much our responsibility as our returning troops, but we won’t do a thing for them. Maybe we could at least get out of their country, and leave them alone.
So that even more of them get killed in the larger scale civil war that would occur? How is leaving owning up to our responsibility to them?
#1-Larry from C & #22-Jay Randal- Well said. The money that is used to keep this illegal occupation afloat could be better spent on a single payer health care system in this country.
Also, TP raises an excellent point by calling attention to the fact that this occupation will have long term disastrous consequences for the children of Iraq. It would appear that the last thing the U.S. wishes to concern itself about is the welfare of children whose faces are brown. Certainly another reason to believe that this war will be attracting recruits to the cause of terrorism, which can be laid directly at the feet of the United States. Support the troops by urging that the U.S. bring home those troops-now.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:24 ambut you blame the Democrats with a one-vote majority in the Senate and a slight majority in the House to repair nearly 7 years of damage? In less than 6 months?
Gimme a break.
Well they do have a mandate to change absolutely everything, dont they?
Perhaps if the dems did more than upchuck meaningless ’symbolic resolutions’ they might be more effective.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:25 amIt’s clear that the term Republican epitomizes laziness (first clue); then the use of the GOP ridiculous talking points.
Comment by veritas — June 26, 2007 @ 10:13 am
Which is totally ironic that their entire political ideology is based on the notion that those who work hard (who they misconstrue as rich) are good people and those who don’t are bad! Such nonsense…
June 26th, 2007 at 10:25 amThe House yesterday passed voter deception legislation that increases punishments for those who “knowingly convey false information with the intent to keep others from voting.â€
Cool.
One question: How does one PROVE that in a court of law?
June 26th, 2007 at 10:26 amComment by Think Prostate — June 26, 2007 @ 10:25 am
Please look up the word “mandate.”
Hint: It’s not what you’re doing Friday night.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:27 amYesterday’s Supreme Court decisions show the new “muscle†of the conservative majority, but USA Today notes a division between the far-right justices who are “eager to overturn previous decisions†and the new Bush appointees who are “reluctant†to “completely gut court precedents.â€
So the new Bush appointees are only kinda sorta willing to completely gut court precedents?
June 26th, 2007 at 10:28 amErroll
The money that is used to keep this illegal occupation afloat could be better spent on a single payer health care system in this country.
Speaking of single payer systems:
June 26th, 2007 at 10:29 amNHS rationing is ‘necessary evil’, say doctors
“Rationing is reduction in choice. Rationing has become a necessary evil. We need to formalise rationing to prevent an unregulated, widening, postcode-lottery of care. Government no longer has a choice.”
History books may be rewritten, a la “1984,†if we continue on the present course.
You got that right, sister, thanks to the libs classifying everyone as a victim. Pretty soon you wont be able to smile at anyone on the street because they might get offended. Thanks a lot for that.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:29 amChris Mooney observes, “If the goal is to slam Al Gore, it often seems as if standards of serious discussion suddenly vanish.†Slate’s Emily Yoffee exhibited this behavior in a recent op-ed, demonstrating disdain for complex science. Joe Romm, Steve Benen, and Kevin Drum have more.
Did anyone read Emily Yoffe’s Scarlett O’Hara op-ed piece?
**snort**
June 26th, 2007 at 10:31 amHow about owning up to our responsibility for those who have already been killed? You do understand the concepts of responsibility and negligence, don’t you? It’s 10:32 a.m., do you know where your responsibility is?
June 26th, 2007 at 10:31 amThis apparently was an attempt to suggest Gore doesn’t know what he is talking about.
Comment by WC — June 26, 2007 @ 10:21 am
One of the Principals at my school emailed me a one-sided slam of Al Gore’s house in Tennessee using a lot of electricity and suggested I present it to my students!
I didn’t clearly, because it was biased, and it omitted the reality that Gore’d homeis electrified with renewable solar and wind energy, and nor traditional oil energy.
The conservatives spread their information so easily because other conservatives won’t bother to fact check them. It’s just easier to forward the email. And this woman is actually in charge of a public school! Appalling.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:32 amYou got that right, sister, thanks to the libs classifying everyone as a victim. Pretty soon you wont be able to smile at anyone on the street because they might get offended. Thanks a lot for that.
Comment by Think Prostate
That’s funny! You’re here doing your victim act — while accusing liberals of classifying everyone as a victim!
Brilliant! Bravo!!
June 26th, 2007 at 10:33 amPolitical affiliation.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:33 amHERE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUWstpJjdTc
Little kids in school are not as paranoid and useless as the overwhelming amount of the alleged adults found in the majority that wants Bushco Impeached! Let congress play pretend and out in the nation…
SUPPORT A GENERAL STRIKE TO EXPRESS THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE!
June 26th, 2007 at 10:34 amSUPPORT A GENERAL STRIKE TO EXPRESS THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE!
SUPPORT A GENERAL STRIKE TO EXPRESS THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE!
SUPPORT A GENERAL STRIKE TO EXPRESS THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE!
SUPPORT A GENERAL STRIKE TO EXPRESS THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE!
So they have to escape the US and go to the US?
Comment by squegeebooo — June 26, 2007 @ 10:24 am
LOL… Though escaping the US could be a problem for them in a couple more years of there nonsense…
June 26th, 2007 at 10:34 amSo that even more of them get killed in the larger scale civil war that would occur? How is leaving owning up to our responsibility to them?
Comment by squegeebooo
Don’t start that shit with me, Squeegy. How is staying and killing them ourselves, and perpetuating the horror helping them? There is no good solution here, but I think the best solution is for us to get the f*ck out of there and leave these people alone.
An apology would also be in order. I know, I live in a dream world.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:36 amTROLLBAIT3000
June 26th, 2007 at 10:36 amIt’s 10:32 a.m., do you know where your responsibility is?
The coffee maker? Cause I’m about to head that way anyways, so that would be awesome if it worked out like that.
How about owning up to our responsibility for those who have already been killed?
And what would you suggest we do for to own up to them?
#74 – Maybe you shoud have re-written your response like this:
You got that right, sister, thanks to the neo-cons reclassifying everyone as not responsible for anything they do no matter what. Pretty soon you wont be able to smile at anyone on the street because they might think you’re a terrorist. Thanks a lot for that.
Comment by Think Prostate — June 26, 2007 @ 10:29 am
There. I’ve corrected your mistakes.
No need to thank me.
Neo-cons never thank anyone for correcting their failures, nor do they take responsibilty for their own self-inflicted failures.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:37 amPlease write a 3,000 word essay supporting your thesis. Remember, all facts asserted in your essay must be supported in the bibliography. this counts for 60 percent of your grade.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:38 amROLLBAIT3000
It’s 10:32 a.m., do you know where your responsibility is?
The coffee maker? Cause I’m about to head that way anyways, so that would be awesome if it worked out like that.
How about owning up to our responsibility for those who have already been killed?
And what would you suggest we do for to own up to them?
Comment by squegeebooo — June 26, 2007 @ 10:36 am
Your responsibility is where the coffee goes after it passes through your bladder.
If you accept responsibility, I’ll tell you what you can do to own up to it. But I doubt you’ll do that – ’cause you’re a neocon tool.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:41 amTROLLBAIT3000
Your responsibility is where the coffee goes after it passes through your bladder.
If you accept responsibility, I’ll tell you what you can do to own up to it. But I doubt you’ll do that – ’cause you’re a neocon tool.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:44 amSo as long as I don’t wet myself you’ll help me out? Also, can I be a hammer? Cause all my problems look like nails already.
SUPPORT A GENERAL STRIKE TO EXPRESS THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE!
Comment by freedomrings — June 26, 2007 @ 10:34 am
How about if you just stop posting your crap here a day or two? I would find some great solace in that.
To think that you can start a general strike by posting on a message board is downright ludicrous. Maybe you should start by unionizing your work place. Or if you do work in a union shop, isn’t this something you should bring up with your union leadership?
June 26th, 2007 at 10:54 amLet’s see.
In the 109th Congress there was a 55 versus 44+1 split. The Republicans were able to do just about anything that they wanted.
The Senate now has a Democratic majority and they can’t get anything accomplished.
Seems like they either need to learn to play hardball to the extreme with the Republicans, or they are going to be in BIG trouble come the next elections.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:56 amThat’s funny! You’re here doing your victim act — while accusing liberals of classifying everyone as a victim!
Brilliant! Bravo!! -Comment by Zooey
You’re on top of your game this a.m., Z!
Give ‘em Hell, take no prisoners &, as my Dad used to say, ‘Read ‘em the Riot Act!
June 26th, 2007 at 11:01 am#89 – “The Senate now has a Democratic majority and they can’t get anything accomplished.”
Remember the Democrats have a 49+1 versus 49 “majority”.
Most legislation is not based solely on a majority vote. Most legislation requires a “cloture” vote of 60 votes before anything can be voted on by the Senate.
The previous Republican majority used obscure rules to force legislation out of cloture without getting the 60 votes necessary.
Democrats follow the rules and get lebled: inneffective.
Republicans break the rules and get voted out of office.
Sounds like sour grapes to me!
June 26th, 2007 at 11:08 amLinn post 59 > thanks for your comment. Not everyone in our Georgia are GOPer rednecks.
June 26th, 2007 at 11:10 am#91 – The 49+1 “majority” doesn’t count Sen. Johnson still out from his brain hemorrhage. When he returns to the Senate, maybe the Democrats will be able to use some of the political capital they earned in the 2006 elections.
Personally, I’m looking forward to the 2008 elections, in which the Dems will be defending 10 seats while the Republicans will be defending 16 seats.
Democratic incumbent races
1 Max Baucus of Montana
2 Dick Durbin of Illinois
3 Tom Harkin of Iowa
4 John Kerry of Massachusetts
5 Mary Landrieu of Louisiana
6 Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey
7 Carl Levin of Michigan
8 Mark Pryor of Arkansas
9 Jack Reed of Rhode Island
10 Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia
Republican incumbent races
June 26th, 2007 at 11:12 am1 Lamar Alexander of Tennessee
2 Saxby Chambliss of Georgia
3 Norm Coleman of Minnesota
4 Susan Collins of Maine
5 John Cornyn of Texas
6 Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina
7 Pete Domenici of New Mexico
8 Michael Enzi of Wyoming
9 Lindsey Graham of South Carolina
10 Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma
11 Mitch McConnell of Kentucky
12 Pat Roberts of Kansas
13 Jeff Sessions of Alabama
14 Gordon Smith of Oregon
15 Ted Stevens of Alaska
16 John Sununu of New Hampshire
Erroll post 67 > thanks and I agree with you that troops need to be pulled out of Iraq ASAP.
June 26th, 2007 at 11:14 amHow about owning up to our responsibility for those who have already been killed?
And what would you suggest we do for to own up to them?
Comment by squegeebooo
How about removing the troops – and starting a Berlin Airlift? Just airdrop billions of dollars of medicines, food, electical generators, hell, just drop baskets of cash on the most dangerous areas. It wouldn’t be any worse than what we’re doing now …
June 26th, 2007 at 11:18 ambarfly > I would drop boxes of food in places like Iraq. That would make friends instead of enemies.
June 26th, 2007 at 11:25 ambarfly
and starting a Berlin Airlift? Just airdrop billions of dollars of medicines, food, electical generators, hell, just drop baskets of cash on the most dangerous areas. It wouldn’t be any worse than what we’re doing now …
Unless your going to leave a presence on the ground to properly hand out the air lifted supplies, your just going to have local strong men taking it all and using it to further there own power, even if it’s just food like Jay suggested.
June 26th, 2007 at 11:29 amComment by Willy Makeit — June 26, 2007 @ 9:55 am
Willy,
Buck up and learn to be a good Republican. How are you going to make it in the military if you can’t learn to duck birdshot at summer camp.
I’ll see you at the end of August, stop whining.
Fondly,
June 26th, 2007 at 11:35 amYour Father
2 Saxby Chambliss of Georgia
Comment by Democrat Soldier — June 26, 2007 @ 11:12 am
Just this year he finally started responding to my correspondence… I thought it was funny how he suddenly began acting like he cared after he saw what happened in November. LOL
I cannot wait to vote against him either… Well, if I still live here. :D
June 26th, 2007 at 11:38 amMy 6 year old niece skims complex text, picking out only the words she knows (like her own name and things that she likes). That’s Shrub’s level.
Comment by unbelievable
I bet the only word he recognized was torture because he likes it so much.
June 26th, 2007 at 11:38 amyour just going to have local strong men taking it all and using it to further there own power, even if it’s just food like Jay suggested.
Comment by squegeebooo — June 26, 2007 @ 11:29 am
How do you know?
That mentality is partly of why we invaded Iraq in the first place. We figured othergrown adults couldn’t determine what was best for themselves and we decided to label them and incompetent, so that we could intervene.
If you give the people enough food, there won’t be a need for others to hoarde it. General Economics.
June 26th, 2007 at 11:41 amI bet the only word he recognized was torture because he likes it so much.
Comment by shane — June 26, 2007 @ 11:38 am
LOL No doubt.
June 26th, 2007 at 11:43 amUnless your going to leave a presence on the ground to properly hand out the air lifted supplies, your just going to have local strong men taking it all and using it to further there own power, even if it’s just food like Jay suggested.
Comment by squegeebooo
____________________________
And then, perhaps the regular Iraqis will start targeting their wrath on the real culprits, instead of the U.S.
June 26th, 2007 at 11:45 amunbelievable
How do you know?
From prior examples of trying out the why don’t we just give them aid and wash our hands of it methodology. Think Africa.
If you give the people enough food, there won’t be a need for others to hoarde it. General Economics.
June 26th, 2007 at 11:47 amYour not accounting for human greed/lust for power.
Give the people enough food and a small % will horde it as a way of controlling the larger % and so they can be gluttons. Human Nature.
PatrioticLiberalChristian(PLC)
And then, perhaps the regular Iraqis will start targeting their wrath on the real culprits, instead of the U.S.
Perhaps, but doubtful, it’s not going to be like Algeria, theres to many different factions and to much regional animosity for the Iraqi people to rise up and solve their issues with out some kind of strong military backing.
June 26th, 2007 at 11:54 amFrom prior examples of trying out the why don’t we just give them aid and wash our hands of it methodology.
Such as?
Have you bothered to notice if those examples you’re about to site gavethem enough supplies and not just some supplies? It does matter…
Think Africa.
They aren’t Africa.
Your not accounting for human greed/lust for power.
Of course I am.
Give the people enough food and a small % will horde it as a way of controlling the larger % and so they can be gluttons. Human Nature.
Comment by squegeebooo — June 26, 2007 @ 11:47 am
Yes, some will, which is why youfactor that percent into what you supply them with. Over time, those who horde will be impotent, because they will have no power with their surplus, since food, the thing they have, will not be in demand. Sure this is expensive, but if we had bothered to do this in the first place, it would be much cheaper than the mess we have created.
June 26th, 2007 at 11:56 amComment by Thing Prostrate
Please look up the word “mandate.â€
Hint: It’s not what you’re doing Friday night.
Comment by Zooey
I hate to disagree Zooey but I believe is it was Thing Prostrate will be doing Friday night.
June 26th, 2007 at 11:58 amto much regional animosity for the Iraqi people to rise up and solve their issues with out some kind of strong military backing.
Comment by squegeebooo — June 26, 2007 @ 11:54 am
Again, who are you to decide what they can and cannot do? You’re not letting them decide. I’m all for supporting them, but that’s not what we are doing – not even close.
One caveat to my previous post on food. I actually believe in education as the means to teach people how to grow their own food and sustain themselves long term. This is simply a short-term solution we are discussion, and it kind of sounded like I meant a permanent solution to feeding people. It’s one of the reason I’m learning how to feed myself by growing my own food. I think I might need to know if things keep going as they have…
June 26th, 2007 at 12:01 pmGive the people enough food and a small % will horde it as a way of controlling the larger % and so they can be gluttons. Human Nature.
Comment by squegeebooo
Do they have Republicans in Iraq too?
June 26th, 2007 at 12:08 pmunbelievable
They aren’t Africa.
Nope, but there are quite a few similarities when it comes to regional structure, and the aid route in Africa is the closest real world example to what was discussed above, so it makes sense to use it as a template for what will happen as opposed to just relying on the goodness of people.
Yes, some will, which is why youfactor that percent into what you supply them with. Over time, those who horde will be impotent, because they will have no power with their surplus, since food, the thing they have, will not be in demand.
The American people and our elected representatives won’t give them that much aid, they’ll send the bare minimum, if that, so you won’t be able to flood the system with enough food or anything else, to account for the people who horde. I’m trying to think in real world terms, not in ideal circumstances that arn’t realizable.
Again, who are you to decide what they can and cannot do? You’re not letting them decide. I’m all for supporting them, but that’s not what we are doing – not even close.
Again, I’m basing it of real world examples and my understanding of the current situation. But your right about us not supporting them, or at least not properly.
One caveat to my previous post on food. I actually believe in education as the means to teach people how to grow their own food and sustain themselves long term.
June 26th, 2007 at 12:33 pmThats a huge caveat. Because it means having people on the ground doing the teaching, and if we have that, then we’re going to have to have some sort of military structure in place to protect them. Which is completely different than the ‘lets just give them tons of aid and get the heck out’ that was advocated above.
SB,
I see you conveniently skipped over providing me examples… How very conservative of you.
I have to run for now, but will check back later.
June 26th, 2007 at 12:35 pmIn order to even “skim†something, the assmption is that one is able to read. I don’t believe we can attribute this trait to the Shrub In Chef.
Comment by veritas
You’re right. My Pet Goat is more his speed.
June 26th, 2007 at 12:36 pmI keep hearing the claim that the democrat party has the lion’s share of highly educated people, but when I read the types of comments made by democrats in this blog, I have to wonder. Rather than having substance that might have a chance to convince, they are largely riddled with chiildish insults about republicans or president Bush. If this represents intelligence, perhaps intelligence is overrated.
June 26th, 2007 at 3:01 pmLinda
I keep hearing the claim that the democrat party has the lion’s share of highly educated people, but when I read the types of comments made by democrats in this blog, I have to wonder.
If you do the googling, you’ll see that the D’s have the most post-grad and dropped out of HS people, theres near parity in the HS grad level, and 2 and 4 year college degree’s skew Republican.
At least that’s what it was in 2005, I haven’t looked it up since then.
June 26th, 2007 at 3:17 pm#114 – According to Wikipedia, in 2204, more post-graduate degree holders supported Sen. Kerry over Pres. Bush at 55%-44%.
Same number of College Grads supported both at 49%-49%.
Mixed everywhere else.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_state_vs._blue_state_divide
June 26th, 2007 at 4:06 pmDemocrat Soldier
Same number of College Grads supported both at 49%-49%
Bachelors degree’s and some college supported Bush, while College Graduate was even, so I wonder if they ended up lumping Bachelors and post grad together for the College Graduate statistic(the % of voters adds up, as does the math if you round to nearest %), and then broke it out into the two levels.
Mixed everywhere else.
Not completely, but it does look like I wasn’t 100% correct, high school grads favored Bush instead of being even, while drop outs were statistically even.
And thanks for the link, in the past I had to search thru all sorts of different similar google searchs and the search results links to other papers to get the info.
June 26th, 2007 at 4:28 pm#4
That is correct. Leahy and Reid refuse to process the President’s judicial nominations in a timely fashion, so they aren’t getting their union bill.
June 26th, 2007 at 4:36 pmI see SB has no examples to back up his generalizions… Why am I not surprised?
June 26th, 2007 at 4:45 pmunbelievable
I see SB has no examples to back up his generalizions… Why am I not surprised?
Um, I gave you 2 links that explain that just aid is a failure? But I didn’t provide any for the education one so you got me there.
However, I’m still waiting on any pertinent links from you about poverty levels in the military, as opposed to the link that had nothing to do with poverty or income level that you did provide.
thankfully Democrat Soldier did my research for me which allowed for me to correct the errors in my original statement.
Which is another thing you could learn from, correcting errors in your statements and/or admissions of being wrong.
as for similarities between Africa and the Middle East, here’s a few to get you started:
June 26th, 2007 at 4:56 pmhttp://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/amaghreb.pdf
http://www.answers.com/topic/imperialism-in-the-middle-east-and-north-africa
unbelievable
Figured I’d give you time to digest the first set before giving you the second set, and then to be honest, when you didn’t come back for a few hours I forgot about it, didn’t think when you said you’d be gone for a while it would be more than an hour.
Anyways, that should cover my bases well enough, although I’m sure you’ll disagree, but I’m off for the day if I remeber to I’ll check in after my Frisbee game.
June 26th, 2007 at 4:59 pm“Unless your going to leave a presence on the ground to properly hand out the air lifted supplies, your just going to have local strong men taking it all and using it to further there own power, even if it’s just food like Jay suggested.”,/i>
Comment by squegeebooo
How do you know? Iraqis are mostly all armed – I don’t see a “strongman” doing much of anything, if he’s trying to take much-needed supplies from armed Iraqi families and tribes.
June 26th, 2007 at 10:56 pm