ThinkFast: July 10, 2007
ThinkFast: July 10, 2007
On April 27, 2005, during a hearing on the PATRIOT Act, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales testified to Congress, “There has not been one verified case of civil liberties abuse.” Six days earlier, the FBI had sent Gonzales “one of at least half a dozen reports of legal or procedural violations” of the PATRIOT Act committed by FBI agents, new documents show.
President Bush “plans to lay out what an aide called ‘his vision for the post-surge’ starting in Cleveland today to assure the nation that he, too, wants to begin bringing troops home eventually.” Bush “decided against” actually withdrawing troops, “but he and his team concluded that he needed to shift his message” to “show that he shares the goals” of the American people.
62: Percentage of Americans who “say the United States made a mistake in sending troops to Iraq,” according to a new USA Today/Gallup poll, “the first time that number has topped 60 percent.” Bush’s approval rating reached an all-time low: 29 percent.
“The Army missed its recruiting goals in June for the second straight month, as rising casualties in Iraq and a strong economy at home kept the service from enlisting enough new soldiers, Pentagon officials said.”
In an 83-4 vote, the Senate yesterday “confirmed as a federal judge a woman who attended a same-sex commitment ceremony, overwhelmingly rejecting the concerns of a Republican senator running for the White House.” Last year, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) blocked her nomination, “citing her attendance at the event.”
“Iraq’s soaring unemployment rate is estimated at 60 to 70 percent, and attempts to lower it are caught in a bloody Catch-22. … Joblessness helps fuel the country’s insurgency,” but “that same instability is hampering rebuilding efforts and economic growth that could generate more jobs.”
“Despite promising to admit 7,000 Iraqi refugees to the U.S. by the end of September, the Bush administration has allowed in just 133 over the past nine months. … Officials predict that at most only 2,000, or less than 30%, of the 7,000 can be processed by Sept. 30.”
“A suicide bomber targeted a NATO patrol in a crowded marketplace in southern Afghanistan Tuesday, killing 17 civilians, officials said. At least 30 people were among the wounded, including seven Western soldiers.”
And finally: The Bush twins were out “having fun last week” in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, DC. The girls “had a handful of preppy-looking boys surrounding them.” The DC Examiner reports, “Jenna looked great and was enjoying standing outside with her cigarette talking to her tall, country-club-looking friends who appeared to be 35-plus. … Barbara had a nice-looking black dress on and [had] what looked like a Jager bomb towards the end of the night.”
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The Bushies love their bombs.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:04 amBush “decided against†actually withdrawing troops, “but he and his team concluded that he needed to shift his message†to “show that he shares the goals†of the American people.
So…he’s not actually going to do what the American people want, but just continue saying that he will.
In other words, S.O.P..
July 10th, 2007 at 9:06 am“Bush “decided against†actually withdrawing troops, “but he and his team concluded that he needed to shift his message†to “show that he shares the goals†of the American people.”
He still thinks “It’s all in the message”. He really thinks if he gives us the right message (with no measurable results) that we are all going to get on his side and support him. The guy is getting more and more delusional as the weeks go by. I find it very scary that someone who is so out of touch with reality has their finger on the red button.
George – I have a message for you. No one’s listening any more and no one believes you any more. Our proof is in your actions.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:08 amBush is simply redifining what the meaning of occupation is.
-GSD
July 10th, 2007 at 9:12 am“Joblessness helps fuel the country’s insurgency,†but “that same instability is hampering rebuilding efforts and economic growth that could generate more jobs.â€
This supports my comment to the trolls who say that if we leave Iraq that chaos will ensue. I say if we leave Iraq (take away one of their irritants) and give them the money we would have spent having our troops in Iraq, then they would have the funds to rebuild what we broke. I truly believe that rebuilding their country is what will bring the sides together to find a way of living with each other. It certainly is not going to happen as long as we are occupying our country and 80% of the people in Iraq think it’s OK to kill an American.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:13 amThe Bush twins were out “having fun last weekâ€
Oh, Goodie!
Do you think they take as much time off of work as they do in battle?
Wait, they don’t work, they don’t serve, they don’t contribute.
I guess they’re just like Dad, he doesn’t work, either.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:15 amThat Bush twin looks so much like her mother it’s scary.
I’m certainly glad to learn that they’re doing their best for the war effort, making sacrifices and all. Go Bush Twins!
Go right to Iraq!
July 10th, 2007 at 9:19 amYes, being a drunk layabout without a concern in the world is “hard work”. Maybe the Chimpettes could reduce the military recruiting shortage by two? Naw, there’s beers to drink and butts to smoke.
-GSD
July 10th, 2007 at 9:21 amWe have another clear-cut case of the AG lying to Congress under oath. Isn’t that know as perjury? If that’s the case, who prosecutes the prosecutor? And Mr Bush trying to clumsily pander to the American people, again. He can put all the lipstick he’d like to on that particular pig, its still a pig. When will Congress finally realize its time for them to perform their ultimate oversight function, impeachment?
July 10th, 2007 at 9:21 amThe Bush twins were out “having fun last week†in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, DC. The girls “had a handful of preppy-looking boys surrounding them.†The DC Examiner reports, “Jenna looked great and was enjoying standing outside with her cigarette talking to her tall, country-club-looking friends who appeared to be 35-plus. … Barbara had a nice-looking black dress on and [had] what looked like a Jager bomb towards the end of the night.â€
Did either of them get caught speeding while high and get charged with posession ?
July 10th, 2007 at 9:24 amOr would that be less newsworthy than this.
More on Gonzo’s lying to the Congress:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070710/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/gonzales_patriot_act;_ylt=Au89YpCjlzDCHDXKSKjtmE.s0NUE
July 10th, 2007 at 9:24 amHe still thinks “It’s all in the messageâ€. He really thinks if he gives us the right message (with no measurable results) that we are all going to get on his side and support him. The guy is getting more and more delusional as the weeks go by. I find it very scary that someone who is so out of touch with reality has their finger on the red button.
George – I have a message for you. No one’s listening any more and no one believes you any more. Our proof is in your actions.
Comment by Katie
Our country is run by Ad-Execs based on market opinion polls. The Chinese just sentanced it’s Food and Drug Chairman to death for taking bribes from the pharmaceutical industry. Savage but effective
July 10th, 2007 at 9:25 amImpeach Jenna & Barbara. Impeach somebody.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:25 amVery interesting link: includes comparative of presidential candidates positions on Healthcare, including cost estimates (far of the 2 trillion asserted by the idiot m12), and SAVINGS OVER THE ACTUAL SYSTEM:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpost/20070709/cm_huffpost/055460;_ylt=Ar94t12KgpwfdiJG7yE.Ccn9wxIF
July 10th, 2007 at 9:26 amGonzales lied under oath and obstructed justice.
Take him down.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:26 amThat 29% approval figure is only an “all-time low” for the USA Today/Gallup poll. The most recent Newsweek poll has a 26% approval rating for Bush, and the most recent CBS poll has a 27% approval rating.
The last USA Today/Gallup poll before this one had Bush’s approval rating at 32%, so yeah, it’s going down.
Take a look: http://www.pollingreport.com/BushJob.htm
July 10th, 2007 at 9:27 amCaption:
‘Thank you Lord, for allowing me to lie & get away with it.’
July 10th, 2007 at 9:27 amLaura Bush: “no one suffers more than their president and I do when we watch this”
July 10th, 2007 at 9:28 amWhile “democracies” pardon guilty traitors, China does some justice with the ex minister guilty of receiving kickbacks for approving faulty drugs, that ended killing 13 babies and a number of adults:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070710/ap_on_re_as/china_tainted_products;_ylt=AubZRRRc6kfZMkGtuIpjpVTMWM0F
July 10th, 2007 at 9:28 amCommuting or Polluting in Paris, France?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ucrr/20070706/cm_ucrr/freetravelinpariswellalmost;_ylt=AqpsWw3zuneMUdVoHvqqIc39wxIF
(This experiment is taking place right now in my home city, Barcelona, with an enormous success)
July 10th, 2007 at 9:30 amSo is Gonzales a liar, deluded, or merely so imcompentent he doesn’t know what’s going on? No matter how you slice it, he shouldn’t be in that office. It’s become painfully obvious to all of America that he is there only as Bush/Cheney’s stooge. What a pity — he might have been his own man at some point in his life.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:31 amLying is NOT an American value we want to teach our children.
How can Republicans support a SYSTEM that has at its very core, Lying?
The lying has become so pervasive as to have infected our entire country…and it is the Republicans who can claim sole credit for this phenomenon.
How do you explain this lying by these adults to your children?
How do you reconcile this with your moral and religious values?
July 10th, 2007 at 9:31 am“And finally: The Bush twins were out “having fun last week†in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, DC. The girls “had a handful of preppy-looking boys surrounding them.†The DC Examiner reports, “Jenna looked great and was enjoying standing outside with her cigarette talking to her tall, country-club-looking friends who appeared to be 35-plus. … Barbara had a nice-looking black dress on and [had] what looked like a Jager bomb towards the end of the night.â€
How in the crap is this news? Is TP a gossip rag?
July 10th, 2007 at 9:33 amOh my gosh! The Bush girls like drinking and older men!
Scandalous!
(This experiment is taking place right now in my home city, Barcelona, with an enormous success)
Comment by Evil Spaniard
Cool article, Senor Evil. Thanks. :)
July 10th, 2007 at 9:35 amOn April 27, 2005, during a hearing on the PATRIOT Act, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales testified to Congress, “There has not been one verified case of civil liberties abuse.†Six days earlier, the FBI had sent Gonzales “one of at least half a dozen reports of legal or procedural violations†of the PATRIOT Act committed by FBI agents, new documents show.
Gonzo committed perjury. Congress….?
Hello……..?
July 10th, 2007 at 9:36 amBush can talk till the cows come home about how he’s in sync with the wishes of the american people but we all know it’s bullshit and drivel. His agenda is to run out his own clock and nothing else. His handlers and speech writers are trying their damnest to select the correct vocabulary to further con the public but anything short of “bringing them home beginning tomorrow” is nothing more than typical Bush lies.
I feel like vomitting when I see his lying mug.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:36 amPresident Bush “plans to lay out what an aide called ‘his vision for the post-surge’ starting in Cleveland today to assure the nation that he, too, wants to begin bringing troops home eventually.†Bush “decided against†actually withdrawing troops, “but he and his team concluded that he needed to shift his message†to “show that he shares the goals†of the American people.
One of the King’s major problems is this “message” thing.
And his “vision” thing.
And the fact that he’s totally out of touch with the American people.
And he’s insane…
July 10th, 2007 at 9:38 amComment by Evil Spaniard
I downloaded the pages on the comparisons of healthcare plans. very helpful evil.
you’re pretty considerate, for an evil guy and all.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:39 am#
Very interesting link: includes comparative of presidential candidates positions on Healthcare, including cost estimates (far of the 2 trillion asserted by the idiot m12), and SAVINGS OVER THE ACTUAL SYSTEM:
http://news.yahoo.com/ s/ huffpost/ 20070709/ cm_huffpost/ 055460;_ylt=Ar94t12KgpwfdiJG7yE.Ccn9wxIF
Comment by Evil Spaniard — July 10, 2007 @ 9:26 am
Evil Spaniard: Good info, as always. Keep the facts coming! They are well appreciated.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:40 amTo ace –
Apparently lying is OK unless it’s about sex and you’re a democrat. Lying to further a political agenda is perfectly OK — so is killing, spying, and torture.
Anything to keep the “godless liberals” out of power…
July 10th, 2007 at 9:40 amHi Zooey! Good to see you! Agreed, the problem is the twisted (and now plagiarized) message and vision. Day late & dollar short for him to begin parroting what Dems have been saying all along. As though he ever had an original thought?
July 10th, 2007 at 9:42 amThe same poll showing Bush with 29% approval and two thirds of the country opposed to Libby’s commutation also showed that 62% DO NOT want impeachment. Just reporting the facts.
So maybe race-baiting Conyers and lying Leaky Leahy should think twice before they seek impeachment.
As for Vitter, he should resign really. God help us if Kathleen “hates black people” Blank-O has to replace him, but he should resign nonetheless.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:42 amGonzo’s lies would be considered “perjury” if he was under oath at the time…anyone know for sure?
July 10th, 2007 at 9:42 amWhat did we miss?
How about this:
Hearts over minds, he tells Democrats
My favorite line:
“Westen writes that it doesn’t make sense to argue an issue using facts and figures”
Sounds about standard for the current Democractic arguments.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:44 amveritas, lying to Congress is a crime whether under oath or not, if I’m not mistaken
July 10th, 2007 at 9:44 am#33 – Gonzo is not going anywhere. Nice try though. Gee, wonder if liberals would take Gonzo over Alito on the Supreme Court? Oh well, doesn’t matter now!
July 10th, 2007 at 9:45 amGood morning to you Mistress Z & all the rest of TP posters. Hope your day is beggining with a nice summer day.
willyloman (powerful thatric play, by the way), thanks, I was a bit tired of not seeing anywhere any concrete ciphers about Universal Healthcare, other than the 2 trillion far off “guess” or the non-numbers of the (R)’s, stating that it will cost “more” than the current system, providing nil evidence…
July 10th, 2007 at 9:45 amTP is censoring posts about the Z-word again.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:46 am#37 – just say no to universal health care. It is NOT a constitutional right and everything the govt touches turns to dust.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:46 amGreen Zone in Iraq comes under heavy mortar fire. This is good news. This means that the surge s working!
Surgariffic.
-GSD
July 10th, 2007 at 9:48 amVertias:
I know you asked where I had been – TP was blocking my postings in recent days, and still does if it relates to anything too truthful.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:49 amBush twins out having fun? Sounds like “Us” magazine stuff to me. As for verified civil liberties abuse pertaining to the Patriot Act: Reports don’t make it verified, folks. But clever wording and editing here on ThinkProgress can make it appear that way.
“The lying has become so pervasive as to have infected our entire country…and it is the Republicans who can claim sole credit for this phenomenon.
Comment by ace — July 10, 2007 @ 9:31 am”
Ever hear of the Kennedy’s, ace? Franklin Roosevelt? Bill Clinton? Liars and Democrats all.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:49 amEvil Spaniard
Surprisingly enough, I’ve heard of the bike stations in Paris, (didn’t know you guys were doing it to) and all I’ve heard has been good.
Supposedly if you don’t mind switching bikes every 30 minutes you can ride for free (after the monthly fee) all day.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:49 amOh, and willyloman, the “Evil” part is sarcastic, of course. My nick is based in the way biased view of Spaniards in a videogame called “Pirates”, from MicroProse, very laughable, btw.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:49 am#37 – just say no to universal health care. It is NOT a constitutional right and everything the govt touches turns to dust.
Comment by You Don’t Have the Votes — July 10, 2007″
Especially the Iraq and Afghanistan wars! Also thank Bush for putting the tentacles of government into the pockets of all of America’s religious institutions with his Faith Based Initiative.
-GSD
July 10th, 2007 at 9:50 amIt is very telling that even though the military has relaxed its enlistment standards by lowering its educational requirements, increased its maximum age of those who can enlist to 42 and has now allowed even those with criminal records to join the military, “the Army missed its recruiting goals in June for the second straight month.” The lure of patriotism seems to be less enticing now that the reality of Bush’s lies have finally sunk in with the American people. They seem to have committed that cardinal sin that the military most fears: the ability to think for themselves.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:51 amGSD
Surgariffic
Nice word smithing.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:52 amWith unprecedented global support Cheney was of the opinion that going into Iraq was the classic example of a quagmire. How did he figure it would be any better with a fraction of the support. Impeach this traitor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGIe1gPaTXY
July 10th, 2007 at 9:52 amComment by ace — July 10, 2007 @ 9:31 amâ€
Ever hear of the Kennedy’s, ace? Franklin Roosevelt? Bill Clinton? Liars and Democrats all.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — July 10, 2007 @ 9:49 am
Would you like for it to stop – and if so, what actions are you personally willing to take to STOP IT?
If you don’t care about the lying, because all politicians are crooked, regardless of party affiliation, just say so.
What is the point of mentioning all of the lying from the past that has resulted in the ever steepening slippery slope we find ourselves on today? does this somehow justify the lying to Congress being discussed here in your mind?
What to you tell your children about lying? Do you tell them that two wrongs DO make a right? Is this the best we can do?
July 10th, 2007 at 9:53 am37. Comment by Evil Spaniard
Did you notice how many Demorcratic plans call for keeping Ins. companies in place and giving them money for insuring low paid Americans thru the General Fund, and making it MANDITORY for US citizens to buy health insurance? Like Auto Insurance? MANDITORY that we pay the system that SICKO just revealed as crooked and corrupt?
My God. No wonder Kucinich is the only Dem talking about Sicko.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:53 amWhat American in their right mind would want to figh for the Bush/Cheney Empire. They have perverted America beyond recognition.
As the nation swirls down the bowl Bush tries to simply come up with a new catch phrase.
Looks like Chimpy and Rove and Ed Gillespie are going to roll out a new product in September.
-GSD
July 10th, 2007 at 9:54 amace, Bigfoot has a point in that you placed blame solely at the feet of Republicans and that’s not deserved.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:56 amAll politicians lie. The successful ones, anyway.
46. Comment by Erroll
Don’t forget; with so many enlisting or being in Iraq and …..
So many young men in Prisons, around 3 million……
The Administration keeps boasting about unemployment numbers being at a stand still.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:56 amWilly:
Americans don’t need “insurance,” – they need HEALTH CARE.
Insurance is the middleman that has bankrupted the system and tapped-out the American people.
2/3 of all the money spent on HEALTH CARE goes to line the pockets of INSURANCE COMPANIES – who actually provide NO HEALTH CARE.
Actual health care costs would not be the problem, but for the middleman.
Warren Buffett doesn’t want to talk about that reality.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:57 amBigfoot,
FDR salvaged this country when a Republic666an drove it to despair, Kennedy saved us from nuclear war, what have the neo666cons done for us other than selling our childrens future for their own profit and rushing headlong into a quagmire?
July 10th, 2007 at 9:57 amPaaaaalease save your talking points.
Your article cites the existing costs as $2 trillion projected to rise to $4 trillion.
BTW, did you notice the candidates already having health care plans in that article ?
If you read an objective political blog instead of this one you might have seen it pointed out that not only is Michael Moore’s Sicko misleading in it’s presentation of overseas health care systems, these policies also make it redundant.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:57 am51. Comment by GSD
For some young people, it’s better than staying in a town that’s dying because the manufacturing plants and steel mills are now in India and Mexico.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:58 am#39 – just say no to universal health care. It is NOT a constitutional right and everything the govt touches turns to dust.
Comment by You Don’t Have the Votes — July 10, 2007 @ 9:46 am
That’s not what you did in the runup to the Iraq war. So shut up.
Oh, and BTW, your constitution is a 230 years old document with 27 ammendments already. Who says it’s perfect? Maybe it needs another ammendment, just to keep pace with the modern world.
And access to healthcare is a Human Right, and Human Rights are over any earthly government.
So please, spare me all that “healthcare isn’t a right”, while having a Constitution that gives you the right to bear and arm to “protect yourself”.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:58 amWas that April 2005 appearance before the committee one where Gonzo was not under oath? Is this where Spector was making excuses for not insulting him by making him swear.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:59 amI realize that lying to a committee is serious in itself, but swearing an oath certainly makes him even more legally prosecutable in the eyes of most of us.
Comment by ace
that’s exactly my point! But only TWO candidates are willing to acknwledge that.
Evil S… has a great link showing their plans side by side at 14..
Please copy the link and post it on all threads.
July 10th, 2007 at 10:02 amace, Bigfoot has a point in that you placed blame solely at the feet of Republicans and that’s not deserved.
All politicians lie. The successful ones, anyway.
Comment by Wilco — July 10, 2007 @ 9:56 am
#
I did not and would not place blame for our entire situation at the feet of any one party. What I did do is call to account those who would dare to hold themselves to a higher standard that the rest of us on a moral and religious basis – promoting their FAMILY VALUES AGENDA by lying through their teeth.
The HYPOCRISY is what I pointed out – as it is REPUBLICANS who profess to be the party of higher moral standards.
Given the quantity of lies told daily by this administration, they need to drop the whole morality issue and just admit they no longer care about teaching their children the values that they would insist the rest of us live by – despite their own actions to the contrary.
I don’t give a damn about either political party. The two-party system is the PROBLEM, and the TRUTH is the solution.
Are you in favor of Republicans lying? If not, are you willing to say so, and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT?
Americans are just Americans. We’re not Party-Members.
How about the truth for a change?
July 10th, 2007 at 10:03 am#51 What American in their right mind would want to figh for the Bush/Cheney Empire. They have perverted America beyond recognition. GSD
And this is with the recruiting standards low enough regarding age, education, physical conditioning and morality that even Dubya and Darth MIGHT qualify. That is SCARY, indeed!
Also, the number of Military Academy graduates that are leaving in the minimum amount of active duty time is the highest it has ever been in the history of this country.
Gotta hand it to BushCo, they are following the philosophy of “To save the military, we have to destroy it”. Kinda like they feel about the US, Iraq and much of the rest of the world.
July 10th, 2007 at 10:05 am“but he and his team concluded that he needed to shift his message†to “show that he shares the goals†of the American people.
Translation:
July 10th, 2007 at 10:06 amThe current set of lies are very tired, time to break out a different package that will make the focks newz viewers feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Where’s T-blossom ? He should have some ideas.
This administration “won” the office promising “no nation building” (and now we have Rice saying “birth pangs of a New Middle East”), smaller government, and bringing integrity back to the White House.
How many ignored subpeana’s and outright lies; how many lined pockets and “no-bid contracts”; how many other nations will have to fall before people admit that this is the antithisis of what was promised in the lead up to the election?
July 10th, 2007 at 10:09 amace,
You’re right on, family value this, law and order that, Christian this, moral majority that, give me a f’n break! We all know that the mantle foisted on democrats is one of being godless heathens while the republic666ans are supposed to be saints looking out for the best interests of every red blooded American. Of the two idealogies republic666ans are certainly more evil.
Satan is the great deceiver, how could democrats deceive anyone, goodness knows they are immoral and godless, right?
Republic666ans = evil deceivers
July 10th, 2007 at 10:09 am#60 The problem is that the USA presidential run (as other in other countries, but not so evidently) is run by private money donations (that’s considered in other countries as “buying a president”), and candidates on either side haven’t what is needed to say clearly that they will shot down the healthcare insurance companies. Anyhow, I consider that a violent transition isn’t desirable either, because it will produce a bad blowback for the ones ruling it.
Anyhow, isn’t either absolutely mandatory to abolish private insurance corporations. After all, there exist a good number of countries with Universal Healthcare with Private Healthcare Insurance in a mix, resulting in coverage for all and still earnings for insurance companies.
July 10th, 2007 at 10:10 amFor all you folks claiming perjury, what Gonzales said was factually true, unfortunately.
Since he’s head of the Justice Department, and his department didn’t “VERIFY” the documents, he didn’t purjure himself.
Of course, since Gonzo doesn’t do anything ANYWAYS, he can always say “there has been no verified ….” because the DOJ doesn’t verify anything ANYWAYS.
July 10th, 2007 at 10:13 am66. Comment by Evil Spaniard
Anyway, I am not sure where the “violent transition” conversation happened (unless you go by a diferent name on other days), but lets talk about that for a second.
It’s a good thing that the term “blow back” didn’t exist pre-civil war. Or there might really be a “Jesusland” that still has slaves. Someone cared more about the principle than the potential reprocussions. And for that courage we have one nation. And he has the most stirring monument in the USA (been there? beautiful)
Insurance companies play a limited roll in some of the countries with Universal health care, true. But in order to get to the point where we can discuss those rolls, we have to either accept the idea of a Single Payer system or not. Use that as the given, and then move from there.
Right now, the Insurance Companies Profits are the given and the HMO’s cost reduction tactics are the given.
July 10th, 2007 at 10:18 amOk, that made me laugh. Thanks :)
July 10th, 2007 at 10:20 amRe: Gonzales…
The acts recounted in the FBI reports included unauthorized surveillance, an illegal property search…
vs
“The statements from the attorney general are consistent with statements from other officials at the FBI and the department,” Roehrkasse said. He added that many of the violations the FBI disclosed were not legal violations…
?????
July 10th, 2007 at 10:22 amGonzales should be the next to go.
Why does the U.S. spend the most of any industrialized nation on health care, yet ranks behind the countries with socialized medicine in terms of successful outcome? In Great Britain, they pay 40% of what we pay, and get better results. Single payer health care, without insurance companies in the middle, is our best bet. So, you naysayers believe health care is not a right. You believe health care should be profit-based? Only the wealthy deserve good health? Explain that rationale. You have no problem spending a billion dollars a day for war?
Bush Twins? Not news.
Army recruiting goals falling short.
Troll Alert: your country needs you to fight in the war you support. Unless you cannot meet the I.Q. requirements.
Bush’s vision for the future:
July 10th, 2007 at 10:25 amParaguay, a bank vault full of cash, and all the cerveza he can drink. And no Laura.
#43 Evil Spaniard
Surprisingly enough, I’ve heard of the bike stations in Paris, (didn’t know you guys were doing it to) and all I’ve heard has been good.
Supposedly if you don’t mind switching bikes every 30 minutes you can ride for free (after the monthly fee) all day.
Comment by squegeebooo — July 10, 2007 @ 9:49 am
Yes it is so already. For starting it here, the service cost was initially 6€ (10$?)/month, and half an hour periods. There are already 80.000 users (in 4 months!) who have signed up.
The expectatives of the service have been exceeded greatly.
This is the homesite, but it is yet in Castilian and Catalan languages only.
July 10th, 2007 at 10:25 amComment by Misinformed are we? — July 10, 2007 @ 10:13 am
Typical of this administration, who can simply ignore an NIE stating that Iraq is a clusterf**k by simply saying they haven’t read it.
July 10th, 2007 at 10:26 amOops, link:
http://www.bicing.com
July 10th, 2007 at 10:27 amWhy aren’t the Bush twin sluts in Iraq doing their duty?
July 10th, 2007 at 10:27 amAnd why isn’t Gonzo in jail?
July 10th, 2007 at 10:28 amthat’s like a perfect guy…..If you want to get low rate american express credit cards check out credit-card-gallery
July 10th, 2007 at 10:29 amAnd why isn’t Gonzo in jail?
Comment by RUCerious — July 10, 2007 @ 10:28 am
Haven’t you heard? Because he hasn’t done anything illegal.
Try to keep up.
/sarcasm
July 10th, 2007 at 10:30 amthese political policies—just nothing to have a benefit. If you blog or have a webpage check out http://www.widgetmate.com
July 10th, 2007 at 10:31 amEvil Spaniard
To bad I can’t read either of those…but thanks for the link.
Well thats not true, I can read them, but I don’t understand any of it.
July 10th, 2007 at 10:36 amSPAM ALERT
that’s like a perfect guy…..If you want to get low rate american express credit cards check out credit-card-gallery
Comment by hugepeter — July 10, 2007 @ 10:29 am
July 10th, 2007 at 10:37 amIdiot comes in here with his “adult sex blog” handle posting commercials. What a little loser weenie
July 10th, 2007 at 10:40 amMy opinion is that Clinton was a much better president then Bush could ever be.
July 10th, 2007 at 10:44 amI created a poll at
http://www.pollsfun.com/link.php?poll=82
Please Vote if you Approve or disapprove how George W. Bush is handling his job as President
WC ~ I’m a tryin’, but my head keeps spinning around as I get inundated with the scandal of the hour.
July 10th, 2007 at 10:45 amWhy aren’t those poor Bush twins allowed an opportunity to serve their country by rewarding the troops in Iraq with their presence?
July 10th, 2007 at 10:47 amI’ll bet they could do a lot of entertaining, especially in the evenings.
Why aren’t those poor Bush twins allowed an opportunity to serve their country by rewarding the troops in Iraq with their presence?
I’ll bet they could do a lot of entertaining, especially in the evenings.
Comment by RUCerious
STDs?
July 10th, 2007 at 10:52 amHindsight is not “vision”. This childlike Bush does not have “vision”. He is physcially incapable of “vision”, much less intelligence. He walks in corporate blinders, and listens to a few neocon advisors who have been wrong and inhumane so often it defies understanding why this administration is allowed to still be there. He talks in soundbites, because he does not have thoughts that are deeper than 1/4 inch. He is probably brain damaged from his hx of ETOH and other drugs.
Not to mention that he & his string pullers/advisors are tearing apart our democracy and trashing the Earth and its future, all for today’s corporate good.
America: By and For the Corporations!
Ranting is so much fun.
July 10th, 2007 at 10:53 amHe is probably brain damaged from his hx of ETOH and other drugs.
comment by evergreen — July 10, 2007 @ 10:53 am
What does that mean?
July 10th, 2007 at 10:59 amBuzzflash article:
http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_6308408
“As a longtime attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, I can honestly say that I have never been as ashamed of the department and government that I serve as I am at this time. The public record now plainly demonstrates that both the DOJ and the government as a whole have been thoroughly politicized in a manner that is inappropriate, unethical and indeed unlawful. The unconscionable commutation of I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby’s sentence, the misuse of warrantless investigative powers under the Patriot Act and the deplorable treatment of U.S. attorneys all point to an unmistakable pattern of abuse.” 7/10
John S. Koppel has been a civil appellate attorney with the Department of Justice since 1981.
Adios Senor Gonzales
July 10th, 2007 at 11:04 amTHIS IS AN ORANGE.
Ceci n’est pas une pipe.
July 10th, 2007 at 11:19 amWC ~ I’m a tryin’, but my head keeps spinning around as I get inundated with the scandal of the hour.
Comment by RUCerious — July 10, 2007 @ 10:45 am
Dude, I understand, agree, and sympathize with you.
July 10th, 2007 at 11:24 amFor Juan C (hope it works, job firewall now forbids youtube :’( ):
http://www.youtube.com/v/LikkG294FuY
July 10th, 2007 at 12:55 pmIf you read an objective political blog instead of this one you might have seen it pointed out that not only is Michael Moore’s Sicko misleading in it’s presentation of overseas health care systems, these policies also make it redundant.
Comment by Kilo — July 10, 2007 @ 9:57 am
the only problem with your assertion is that I’ve read your posts and they are far, far away from “objective”, so excuse me if don’t trust your judgement on blogs, or healthcare systems overseas, or the movie “Sicko”.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:05 pmSo please, spare me all that “healthcare isn’t a rightâ€, while having a Constitution that gives you the right to bear and arm to “protect yourselfâ€.
Comment by Evil Spaniard — July 10, 2007 @ 9:58 am
Damn right! You tell him, Senor Evil. :-)
July 10th, 2007 at 1:07 pmZoo, I agree, cause what we have in this country, is not a healthcare right… but a healthcare WRONG!!
And I would love to see a hands of all these trolls posting against it as to how many have no insurance that don’t work for corporate Amrurrika.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:11 pmupside00,
I’d be willing to bet that they either have insurance of some type — but haven’t had to really test it; or they have no insurance and assume they will always be perfectly healthy.
I’m a reasonably healthy person, but a couple years ago I had to have some heart tests done, which ended up costing me thousands and thousands of dollars, even though I had insurance.
We found out my heart just likes to beat to it’s own rhythm (surprised?), but was perfectly healthy — but my insurance rate went up $200 a month anyway!
They will be disillusioned at some point, and it won’t be pretty.
July 10th, 2007 at 2:43 pm#14
$2 trillion is Conyers’ tax and spend plan, not mine! Thanks to Lyndon Johnson, the government is already stealing $700b annually to pay for Medicare and Caid.
They ain’t getting another Reagan dime.
July 10th, 2007 at 2:56 pm>Oh, and BTW, your constitution is a 230 years old document with 27 ammendments already. Who says it’s perfect? Maybe it needs another ammendment, just to keep pace with the modern world.
And access to healthcare is a Human Right, and Human Rights are over any earthly government.
Then amend it or quit your whining!
July 10th, 2007 at 2:57 pm#98 >Oh, and BTW, your constitution is a 230 years old document with 27 ammendments already. Who says it’s perfect? Maybe it needs another ammendment, just to keep pace with the modern world.
And access to healthcare is a Human Right, and Human Rights are over any earthly government.
Then amend it or quit your whining!
Comment by m12 — July 10, 2007 @ 2:57 pm
Glad to know you’re in favor to amend the Constitution to give HEALTHCARE for everybody in the States (that includes citizens and the rest of human inhabitants).
July 10th, 2007 at 3:19 pmSenor Evil,
I’m amazed m12 is willing to allow a citizen of Spain amend our Constitution! :)
Get busy!
July 10th, 2007 at 4:41 pm“Bigfoot,
FDR salvaged this country when a Republic666an drove it to despair, Kennedy saved us from nuclear war, what have the neo666cons done for us other than selling our childrens future for their own profit and rushing headlong into a quagmire?
Paaaaalease save your talking points.
Comment by Texas Democrat — July 10, 2007 @ 9:57 am”
Oh, so when a Democrat lies, it’s a mere talking point, but when a Republican lies, it’s coming from 666 Satan himself? What a load of baloney.
First off, history may yet tell us that the entire Bush administration was a pack of liars and thieves, but as of yet, not one iota of proof. And don’t go spouting off about Rove, Cheney, and Bush lying about weapons of mass destruction and all that crap. If the Bush administration lied, then so did more than half the Democratics in the last congress, and half of the leaders of the rest of the world. That Bush lied about WMD’s IS nothing but a lie and a Bush-Hater talking point. Was he mistaken about them being in Iraq when the invasion took place? Perhaps, perhaps not. Could they still be in a neighboring desert? Possibly. Time and history will tell. It’s still a big world out there.
And don’t go spouting about Scooter Libby. Scooter Libby is his own man, and if he lied, he lied. If he was charged with lying over mere mistaken facts, then that was up to the court to decide. I wasn’t there. Scooter Libby is not Bush, Cheney, or Rove. Bush, Cheney, and Rove will not be punished for whatever crimes Scooter Libby committed, nor should they be. We can debate the commutation of Libby’s prison sentence all we want, and that’s fine by me. It ain’t gonna change anything. Libby’s not going to jail, period. I thought the prison sentence was excessive considering the crime at hand. 30 days in the can, maybe. 2 and a half years? No way.
As for Roosevelt lying to the American people. He had his reasons. He didn’t want the American people to think he was weak because of his polio. He lied to the people about a lot of WW2 to keep public morale up and keep folks behind the war. He ordered intercepts of cablegrams and communications coming into the country (much as Bush has done, but there was no internet, wireless, and barely any phones, back then). Roosevelt censored the news, he censored the mail, through his “fireside chats” he laid out scenarios that weren’t quite on the level. It was wartime, we needed to win, and I have no problem with it. But history HAS proven that Roosevelt did lie, for the good of the country.
As for the Kennedy’s and Clinton. They lied for mere personal reasons. To get out of sticky personal situations pertaining to wine, women, and song. THIS I do have a problem with.
So, in the long term, based on what we know and percieve right now. If it turns out Dubya did lie about Iraq, terrorism, and the like, and we win the war, historically will Dubya be likened to Roosevelt, or the Kennedys and Clintons? I already know the answer. Do you?
July 10th, 2007 at 4:53 pmHow in the crap is this news? Is TP a gossip rag?
Oh my gosh! The Bush girls like drinking and older men!
Scandalous!
Comment by Wilco — July 10, 2007 @ 9:33 am
There is nothing wrong with the Bush brats’ fondness for drinking and older men, per se. The point, which you obviously don’t get, is that their father asks other young Americans to sacrifice their lives and limbs in Iraq but that no one in the Bush family, including the twins’ many cousins, Cheney family, Wolfowitz family, and families of other architects of this war is serving.
July 10th, 2007 at 7:27 pmAs for the Kennedy’s and Clinton. They lied for mere personal reasons. To get out of sticky personal situations pertaining to wine, women, and song. THIS I do have a problem with.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — July 10, 2007 @ 4:53 pm
And do you have a problem with the many visits to the WH by the gay hooker-cum-phony journalist Jeff Gannon/James Guckert, who was still posting his naked pictures on the Internet along with his hourly and weekend rates, even before the Talon News website was established and when no press conferences were scheduled? Do you have a problem with the fact that the Bush administration has refused to answer questions as to why the gay hooker was visiting?
July 10th, 2007 at 11:21 pmGonzalez runs the Justice department yet he lies under oath. From the beginning we were assured that civil liberties would not be abused under the Patriot Act yet that is exactly what happened. Lying in front of Congress is a very serious charge. Congress should bring him back and question him on his apparent falsehood. He clearly committed perjury. A special prosecutor should be appointed to investigate these serious charges.
The president can’t share the goals of the American people if he is against bringing them home. The surge has failed and he needs to acknowledge it to us. This war was a mistake.
The president needs to listen to us. This is a democracy where our leaders are answerable to us. The policy needs to change. Invading Iraq is the worst foreign policy blunder in our history. His ratings are low because he refuses to admit that he was grossly wrong on Iraq. The GOP will pay at the ballot box for his mistakes like they did in 2006.
The Army can’t meet recruiting goals because we were lied into this war. Americans realize that sending our kids to get blown up by IEDs while no political progress is made in Iraq is unnecessary. We don’t want our kids to die in a civil war that we can’t fight for them. It is time for the Iraqis to stand up for their own country.
It is hard to take Christian conservatives seriously when we have people like Vitter soliciting prostitutes while denying law obeying Gay Americans from exercising their God given civil rights in wanting to be married. Gay Americans would take their marriage vows more seriously than Vitter took his own vows.
Bush was told from the beginning that nation building after 9-11 was the wrong step to take. The entire basis for the invasion has been wrong even though the rationale for this unjustified war has changed so many times. From finding WMDs that didn’t exist, to spreading democracy, fighting al Qaeda and preventing 9-11 from happening again, to nation building, this president started an unnecessary war.
It is unconscionable that while we have young men and women being killed by IEDs and suffering traumatic brain injuries and getting substandard outpatient care when they return at Walter Reed the Bush daughters are enjoying themselves as if none of this is happening. It is a shame. What sacrifices have they made for their country?
July 11th, 2007 at 2:00 am#100 Senor Evil,
I’m amazed m12 is willing to allow a citizen of Spain amend our Constitution! :)
Get busy!
Comment by Zooey — July 10, 2007 @ 4:41 pm
*rummaging in my children treasure chest* Where are my crayola?
July 11th, 2007 at 7:34 amWhat other option do you have ?
July 11th, 2007 at 7:38 amI mean it’s a movie. I guess you could go out on a limb and watch it yourself with foreknowledge of what health care policies are being offerred by political candidates as opposed to trusting me.